SAL-biased MR heads stabilized by canted permanent magnets

The design and fabrication of anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) heads bia sed with a soft-adjacent layer (SAL), stabilized by canted permanent magnet (PM), have been investigated. MR linear response to AC writer current was observed. The response of bias point to DC writer current in overlaid head stronger than abutted head indicates that this MR response to writer is at two side-wings in overlaid head while at the track edges in abutted head. T his MR response to writer current can be minimized for narrow track recordi ng by adjusting magnetization angle and strength of PM, which is confirmed by full track scan and micro-track profiles. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.