INVERTED SPIN VALVES FOR MAGNETIC HEADS AND SENSORS

Inverted spin valves (Si substrate/Ta/X/Fe50Mn50/Ni80Fe20/Cu/Ni80Fe20/ Ta with X = Cu or Ni80Fe20) have been investigated by transmission ele ctron microscopy and magnetoresistance measurements, The newly propose d Ni80Fe20 buffer layer provides a significantly increased magnetoresi stance ratio compared to the usual Cu buffer. This makes it possible t o use inverted spin valves instead of conventional spin valves in magn etic heads and sensors, offering reduced corrosion sensitivity and a h igher GMR ratio, First test structures for tape heads have been fabric ated and evaluated. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.