摘要 |
An improved MR sensor has a ferromagnetic free layer whose magnetization is stabilized by an in-stack three layers combination, which including an auxiliary ferromagnetic layer proximate the ferromagnetic free layer, a non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between the ferromagnetic free layer and the auxiliary ferromagnetic layer, and a pinning layer adjacent to the auxiliary ferromagnetic layer. The pinning layer is directly exchange-coupled to the auxiliary ferromagnetic layer such that the magnetization of the auxiliary ferromagnetic layer is pinned. The non-magnetic spacer layer is made of a material, such as Ru, which induces an anti-ferromagnetic exchange coupling between the ferromagnetic free layer and the auxiliary ferromagnetic layer. The magnetization of the ferromagnetic free layer is stabilized in a single-domain state by the combination of the anti-ferromagnetic exchange-coupling and magnetostatic coupling between the ferromagnetic free layer and the auxiliary ferromagnetic layer.
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