Giant magnetoresistive sensor with high-resistivity doped underlayer and doped pinned layer

摘要

A giant magnetoresistive stack for use in a magnetic read head has a plurality of layers including at least one ferromagnetic layer which contributes to a giant magnetoresistive signal, a doped ferromagnetic pinned layer and a doped ferromagnetic underlayer which do not contribute to a giant magnetoresistive signal. The dopant in the doped ferromagnetic pinned layer and underlayer reduces parasitic shunting current through the giant magnetoresistive stack by providing an increase in resistivity without a decrease in magnetization.