Ferromagnetic tunneling magneto-resistive head

A ferromagnetic tunneling magneto-resistive head includes a first yoke, divided into a proximal portion and a distal portion across a gap; a second yoke formed so as to resist the first yoke, positioned opposite a magnetic recording medium, a read head gap being formed between the first and second yokes; a tunneling magneto-resistive element including at least one layer of insulating material, the insulating layer being sandwiched between at least two layers of magnetic material, the tunneling magneto-resistive element magneto-electrically converting a signal magnetic field applied via the first yoke and the second yoke by the recording medium making sliding contact with the read head gap; and a pair of electrodes positioned one at each end of the tunneling magneto-resistive element in a direction of layering of the magnetic layers. The tunneling magneto-resistive element is positioned so as to directly contact a proximal portion and a distal portion of the first yoke, with the read head gap, the proximal portion of the first yoke, the tunneling magneto-resistive element, the distal portion of the first yoke and the second yoke together forming an annular magnetic circuit.