Patent attributes
A CPP magnetic detecting element having a pinned magnetic layer whose magnetization is fixed by its uniaxial anisotropy in a structure that CIP magnetic detecting elements do not allow. In the CPP magnetic detecting element, the upper and lower surfaces of a pinned magnetic layer having an artificial ferrimagnetic structure are disposed between a magnetostriction-enhancing layer made of a nonmagnetic metal and a nonmagnetic material layer having a higher lattice constant than Cu. CPP magnetic detecting elements allow this structure without reducing the variation in resistance per unit area ΔR·A. Thus, the magnetostriction coefficient of the pinned magnetic layer can be increased from above and below, thereby more firmly fixing the magnetization of the pinned magnetic layer.
