CPP MAGNETORESISTIVE HEAD AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a CPP magnetoresistive head which prevents a degradation in film quality of a magnetoresistive sensor film due to oxidation at a junction end thereof, and has a low head resistance, a high output, and a high signal-to-noise ratio. SOLUTION: The CPP magnetoresistive head includes: a magnetoresistive sensor film 20 between a lower shield layer 11 and an upper shield layer 21; and a vertical bias application layer 23 and a device height direction insulating layer provided on both sides of the magnetoresistive sensor film 20 across a track width direction insulating film 22. In the head, the insulating layer is manufactured by reactive sputtering while controlling the concentration of oxygen gas which serves as reactive gas. The insulating layer has a smaller oxygen content at a side thereof in contact with the magnetoresistive sensor film 20 than that of the stoichiometric composition of the insulating layer. In the insulating layer, the oxygen content is smallest at a position where the thickness of the insulating layer is larger than that at the position of the insulating layer in contact with the magnetoresistive sensor film 20, and is located closer to the magnetoresistive sensor film 20 than the half of the thickness of the insulating layer. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT