Abstract:
A method and system for providing a high moment film are disclosed. The high moment film might be used in structures, such as a pole, of a magnetic transducer. The method and system includes providing a plurality of high moment layers and at least one soft magnetic layer interleaved with and ferromagnetically coupled with the plurality of high moment layers. Each of the plurality of high moment layers has a magnetic moment of greater than 2.4 Tesla. The at least one soft magnetic layer has a hard axis coercivity of not more than twenty Oersted. The high moment film has a total thickness of at least one thousand Angstroms.
Abstract:
A method and system for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) transducer from pole layer(s) are disclosed. First and second planarization stop layers are provided on the pole layer(s). A mask is provided on the second planarization stop layer. A first portion of the mask resides on a portion of the pole layer(s) used to form the PMR pole. The PMR pole is defined after the mask is provided. An intermediate layer surrounding at least the PMR pole is provided. A first planarization is performed on at least the intermediate layer. A portion of the second planarization stop layer is removed during the first planarization. A remaining portion of the second planarization stop layer is removed. A second planarization is performed. A portion of the first planarization stop layer remains after the second planarization. A write gap and shield are provided on the PMR pole and write gap, respectively.
Abstract:
A method and system provide a magnetic transducer that includes an underlayer and a nonmagnetic layer on the underlayer. The method and system include providing a trench in the nonmagnetic layer. The trench has a plurality of sides. The method and system also include providing a separation layer in the trench. A portion of the separation layer resides on the sides of the trench. The method and system include providing the main pole. At least part of the main pole resides in the trench on the portion of the separation layer and has a plurality of pole sides. The method and system further include removing at least a portion of the second nonmagnetic layer, thereby exposing the portion of the separation layer. The method and system also include providing a side shield. The separation layer magnetically separates the pole sides from the side shield.
Abstract:
A method and system for providing a magnetic structure that includes at least one magnetic material is disclosed. The method and system include defining the magnetic structure. The magnetic structure also includes a top layer that is insensitive to an istroropic carbonyl reactive ion etch. The defining of the magnetic structure results in at least one artifact. The method and system further includes cleaning the at least one artifact using at least one isotropic carbonyl reactive ion etch.
Abstract:
A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) transducer is provided. The PRM transducer includes a PMR pole having a top, a bottom, and at least one sidewall, the bottom having a bottom width, the top having a top width bigger than the bottom width. The PRM transducer further includes an intermediate layer adjacent to the at least one sidewall, a write gap on the PMR pole, the write gap including a first layer on the PMR pole, the first layer including a planarization stop layer, and a shield on the write gap.
Abstract:
A hard bias structure for biasing a free layer in a MR element within a read head is comprised of a composite hard bias layer having a Co78.6Cr5.2Pt16.2/Co65Cr15Pt20 configuration. The upper Co65Cr15Pt20 layer has a larger Hc value and a thickness about 2 to 10 times greater than that of the Co78.6Cr5.2Pt16.2 layer. The hard bias structure may also include a BCC underlayer such as FeCoMo which enhances the magnetic moment of the hard bias structure. Optionally, the thickness of the Co78.6Cr5.2Pt16.2 layer is zero and the Co65Cr15Pt20 layer is formed on the BCC underlayer. The present invention also encompasses a laminated hard bias structure. The Mrt value for the hard bias structure may be optimized by adjusting the thicknesses of the BCC underlayer and CoCrPt layers. As a result, a larger process window is realized and lower asymmetry output during a read operation is achieved.
Abstract:
In magnetic read heads based on bottom spin valves the preferred structure is for the longitudinal bias layer to be in direct contact with the free layer. Such a structure is very difficult to manufacture. The present invention overcomes this problem by introducing an extra layer between the bias electrodes and the free layer. This layer protects the free layer during processing but is thin enough to not interrupt exchange between the bias electrodes and the free layer. In one embodiment this is a layer of copper about 5 Å thick and parallel exchange is operative. In other embodiments ruthenium is used to provide antiparallel exchange between the bias electrode and the free layer. A process for manufacturing the structure is also described.
Abstract:
A hard bias layer that forms an abutting junction with a free layer in a GMR element and is comprised of FePtCu or FePtCuX where X is B, C, O, Si, or N is disclosed. The FePtCu layer has a composition of about 45 atomic % Fe, 45 atomic % Pt, and 10 atomic % Cu and does not require a seed layer to achieve an ordered structure. The FePtCu layer is annealed at a temperature of about 280° C. and has an Hc value more than double that of a conventional CoCrPt hard bias layer with a similar thickness. Since the FePtCu hard bias layer adjoins a free layer, it has a higher sensor edge pinning efficiency than a configuration with a CoCrPt layer on a seed layer. The novel hard bias layer is compatible with either a top or bottom spin valve structure in a GMR sensor.
Abstract:
In this invention, we replace low resistivity NiFe with high-resistivity FeNi for the FL2 portion of a composite free layer in a CIP GMR sensor in order to minimize current shunting effects while still retaining both magnetic softness and low magnetostriction. A process for manufacturing the device is also described.
Abstract:
A problem associated with current bottom spin valve designs is that it is difficult to avoid magnetic charge accumulation at the edge of the sensor area, making a coherent spin rotation during sensing difficult to achieve. This problem has been eliminated by introducing an exchange coupling layer between the free layer and the ferromagnetic layer that is used to achieve longitudinal bias for stabilization and by extending the free layer well beyond the sensor area. After all layers have been deposited, the read gap is formed by etching down as far as this layer. Since it is not critical exactly how much of the biasing layers (antiferromagnetic as well as ferromagnetic) are removed, the etching requirements are greatly relaxed. Whatever material remains in the gap is then oxidized thereby providing a capping layer as well as a good interface for specular reflection in the sensor region.