Method and apparatus for improved pinning strength for self-pinned giant magnetoresistive heads

摘要

A Giant Magneto-Resistive (GMR) sensor (800) provides increased GMR effect through the use of composite laminate structure (870) as the second of two self-pinned layers of Anti-Parallel (AP) self-pinned layer 865. A positive magnetostrictive material forms the embedded layer (820) of AP pinned layer (865) to increase the perpendicular to Air Bearing Surface (ABS) intrinsic anisotropy field (Hk). The embedded layer (820) of AP pinned layer (865) has no effect on the GMR stack texture, since outer ferromagnetic layers (815 and 825) are provided to control the GMR stack texture.