MAGNETORESISTIVE ELEMENT, ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD, AS WELL AS THIN FILM MAGNETIC HEAD, HEAD GIMBAL ASSEMBLY, HEAD ARM ASSEMBLY, AND MAGNETIC DISK DEVICE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inhibit degradation of magnetoresistive effects due to formation of an insulated part in a magnetoresistive element having a spacer layer including the insulated part and a conductive part mixed in its cross section parallel to the surface of the spacer layer. SOLUTION: The spacer layer 24 of the MR element 5 has a nonmagnetic metal layer 41 placed on a fixed layer 23, a protective layer 42 placed on the metal layer 41 to prevent oxidizing or nitriding of the layer 41, an island-structured isolation layer 44 placed on the protective layer 42 and a cover layer 46 for covering them. A region where the isolation layer 44 is present and a region where the layer 44 is not present are formed on the spacer layer 24 in a view vertical to the upper surface of the fixed layer 23. The thickness of the protective layer 42 on at least part of the region without the isolation layer 44 is 0 or smaller than that of the protective layer 42 in the region with the isolation layer 44. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT