PdPtMn/CoFeB synthetic ferrimagnet spin-valve heads with exchange bias domain stabilization

Reducing the free layer thickness is needed to maintain high field sensitivity in spin-valve heads 1 recording densities over 10 GbiWin2. However, this increaser the readback amplitude asymmetry due to the demagnetizing field from the pinned layer and causes the readback instability due to the high field sensitivity of the he layer. In this paper, \ye describe the fabrication and the excellent read/write performance of narrow track-width spin-valve heads with thin free layers. CoFeB/Ru/CoFeB synthetic ferrimagnet pinned layers were used to improve the asymmetry. Domain control was did by CoPt magnets with exchange bias Fe underlayers.