Magnetic transducer, thin film magnetic head and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

Provided are a magnetic transducer, a thin film magnetic head and a method of manufacturing the same which can improve efficiency of heat dissipation. An MR element functioning as a magnetic transducer comprises: a nonmagnetic metal layer; a free layer formed on one surface of the nonmagnetic metal layer; a pinned layer formed on the other surface of the nonmagnetic metal layer; and an antiferromagnetic layer formed on a surface of the pinned layer, the surface being opposite to a surface in contact with the nonmagnetic metal layer. One end face of the free layer, the nonmagnetic metal layer, the pinned layer and the antiferromagnetic layer forms a medium facing surface forming a surface facing an external magnetic field. A tapered surface inclined to the medium facing surface is formed on the end face opposite to the medium facing surface of a stack comprising the free layer, the nonmagnetic metal layer, the pinned layer and the antiferromagnetic layer. A distance between the medium facing surface of the antiferromagnetic layer and the opposite face is longer than a distance between the medium facing surface of the free layer and the opposite face. Thus, a sufficient amount of heat dissipation from the antiferromagnetic layer can be ensured. Therefore, heating of the magnetic transducer can be prevented.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A magnetic transducer comprising: 
 a magneto-sensitive layer for sensing an external magnetic field; and    a heat dissipation layer formed adjacent to the magneto-sensitive layer.    
     
     
         2 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipation layer is formed adjacent to at least one surface of the magneto-sensitive layer.  
     
     
         3 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the heat dissipation layer is from 1 nm to 100 nm inclusive.  
     
     
         4 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipation layer is made of a material having higher electrical resistance than that of the magneto-sensitive layer.  
     
     
         5 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipation layer is made of a nonmagnetic metal film.  
     
     
         6 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 5 , wherein the heat dissipation layer is made of a material including any one or more of Zr, Bi, Ta, Pt or Pd.  
     
     
         7 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein a surface area of the heat dissipation layer is larger than that of the magneto-sensitive layer.  
     
     
         8 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the magneto-sensitive layer and the heat dissipation layer are configured so that each of one end faces thereof forms a surface facing the external magnetic field.  
     
     
         9 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 8 , wherein a distance between the one end face of the heat dissipation layer and the opposite face is longer than a distance between the one end face of the magneto-sensitive layer and the opposite face.  
     
     
         10 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 8 , wherein the face opposite to the one end face of the magneto-sensitive layer is inclined to the one end face.  
     
     
         11 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an insulating layer provided between the magneto-sensitive layer and the heat dissipation layer.  
 
     
     
         12 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 11 , wherein a thickness of the insulating layer is from 2 nm to 30 nm inclusive.  
     
     
         13 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the magneto-sensitive layer includes a magnetoresistive film whose electrical resistance changes in response to the external magnetic field.  
     
     
         14 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 13 , wherein the magneto-sensitive layer comprises: 
 a nonmagnetic layer;    a soft magnetic layer formed adjacent to one surface of the nonmagnetic layer;    a ferromagnetic layer formed adjacent to the other surface of the nonmagnetic layer; and    an antiferromagnetic layer formed adjacent to a surface of the ferromagnetic layer, the surface being opposite to a surface adjacent to the nonmagnetic layer.    
     
     
         15 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 14 , wherein the heat dissipation layer is adjacent to the antiferromagnetic layer or the soft magnetic layer.  
     
     
         16 . A thin film magnetic head comprising a magnetic transducer, wherein the magnetic transducer has a structure according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         17 . A thin film magnetic head according to  claim 16  further comprising: 
 two magnetic shield layers located so as to face each other with the magnetic transducer in between, for magnetically shielding the magnetic transducer.  
 
     
     
         18 . A thin film magnetic head according to  claim 16  further comprising: 
 an inductive magnetic transducer having:  
 two magnetic layers magnetically coupled to each other and each having a recording-medium-facing part including a magnetic pole, the magnetic poles facing each other with a gap layer in between, the magnetic layers being each formed of at least one layer; and  
 thin film coils arranged between the two magnetic layers.  
 
     
     
         19 . A magnetic transducer comprising: 
 a magneto-sensitive portion for sensing an external magnetic field; and    a heat dissipation means for dissipating heat generated in the magneto-sensitive portion.    
     
     
         20 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat dissipation means is provided as part of the magneto-sensitive portion.  
     
     
         21 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 20 , wherein the heat dissipation means is formed with antiferromagnetic layer which is part of the magneto-sensitive portion.  
     
     
         22 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat-dissipation means is provided separately from the magneto-sensitive portion.  
     
     
         23 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 22 , wherein the heat dissipation means is formed with a higher resistance layer made of a material having higher electrical resistance than that of the magneto-sensitive portion.  
     
     
         24 . A magnetic transducer comprising: 
 a magneto-sensitive layer for sensing an external magnetic field; and    a higher resistance layer provided separately from the magneto-sensitive layer, the higher resistance layer being made of a material having higher electrical resistance than that of the magneto-sensitive layer.    
     
     
         25 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 24 , wherein the higher resistance layer is made of a nonmagnetic metal material.  
     
     
         26 . A magnetic transducer according to  claim 25 , wherein the higher resistance layer is made of a material including any one or more of Zr, Bi, Ta, Pt or Pd.