Method for thermally isolating a magnetoresistive element from thermal asperities

摘要

A reader and a method of fabricating a reader having a thermally isolated magnetoresistive element is disclosed. The method includes fabricating a magnetoresistive read transistor between a top shield and a bottom shield. The magnetoresistive read transistor is then coated with a thermally isolating material. The magnetoresistive read transistor can be coated with a zirconia compound such as zirconium diboride. For additional thermal isolation, a layer of diamond-like carbon can be deposited over the thermally isolating material.