Pinned layer reversal effect on tunneling magnetoresistive heads caused by dynamic fly height heater voltage

Pinned layer reversal (PLR) causes instability upon magnetic recording heads. PLR effects on giant magnetoresistive heads are well understood unlike tunneling magnetoresistive heads. Dynamic fly height (DFH) heater is used as a controller of the flying height of the head. This work presents the PLR phenomenon caused by DFH heater voltage. Experimental results reveal the threshold voltage of DFH heater inducing PLR phenomenon is 3.35V which is lower than that of the oxide breakdown. Effect of direction and read biasing voltage level was also investigated.