MAGNETORESISTIVE EFFECT ELEMENT AND READ HEAD AND DRIVE HAVING THE SAME

摘要

PURPOSE: To provide a magnetoresistive effect element that can obtain large magneto-resistance changes in stable states, and to provide a read head and a drive having the element. CONSTITUTION: The magnetoresistive effect element has a laminated film containing a first ferromagnetic layer the direction of magnetization of which is substantially fixed, a second ferromagnetic layer the direction of magnetization of which is freely changed with respect to an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic intermediate layer which separates the ferromagnetic layers from each other and a means which impresses a sense current upon the laminated film in the direction of lamination of the film. The second ferromagnetic layer is constituted of two or more ferromagnetic metallic layers separated from each other by nonmagnetic metallic layers.