Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Nozomu Matukawa

Hiroshi Sakakima

Masayoshi Hiramoto

Akihiro Odagawa

Kenji Iijima

Hideaki Adachi

Mitsuo Satomi

The present invention provides a vertical current-type magneto-resistive element. The element includes an intermediate layer and a pair of magnetic layers sandwiching the intermediate layer, and at least one of a free magnetic layer and a pinned magnetic layer is a multilayer film including at least one non-magnetic layer and magnetic layers sandwiching the non-magnetic layer. The element area defined by the area of the intermediate layer through which current flows perpendicular to the film is not larger than 1000 &#x3bc;m.

Magneto-resistive element

The present invention provides a magnetoresistive element that includes a pair of magnetic layers and an intermediate layer between the magnetic layers. The intermediate layer contains at least three elements selected from Groups 2 to 17, and the elements include at least one selected from the group consisting of F, O, N, C and B. According to the invention, a magnetoresistive element with high magnetoresistance change ratio and low resistance can be provided. The invention also provides a method for producing a magnetoresistive element. The method includes forming a precursor and forming at least one part of the intermediate layer from the precursor. The precursor is reacted with at least one reactive species selected from the group consisting of oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms and carbon atoms in a reactive atmosphere containing the reactive species.

Magnetoresistive element and method for producing the same

The present invention provides a magnetoresistive element that includes a pair of magnetic layers and an intermediate layer between the magnetic layers. The intermediate layer contains at least three elements selected from Groups to , and the elements include at least one selected from the group consisting of F, O, N, C and B. According to the invention, a magnetoresistive element with high magnetoresistance change ratio and low resistance can be provided. The invention also provides a method for producing a magnetoresistive element. The method includes forming a precursor and forming at least one part of the intermediate layer from the precursor. The precursor is reacted with at least one reactive species selected from the group consisting of oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms and carbon atoms in a reactive atmosphere containing the reactive species.

The present invention provides a vertical current-type magneto-resistive element. The element includes an intermediate layer and a pair of magnetic layers sandwiching the intermediate layer, and at least one of a free magnetic layer and a pinned magnetic layer is a multilayer film including at least one non-magnetic layer and magnetic layers sandwiching the non-magnetic layer. The element area defined by the area of the intermediate layer through which current flows perpendicular to the film is not larger than 1000 &mgr;m .

The invention provides a magnetoresistive element in which the pinned magnetic layer includes at least one non-magnetic film and magnetic films sandwiching that non-magnetic film, and the magnetic films are coupled with one another by magnetostatic coupling via the non-magnetic film. This element has an improved thermal resistance. Furthermore, the invention provides a magnetoresistive element in which the pinned magnetic layer is as described above. The magnetic films can be coupled with one another by magnetostatic coupling or antiferromagnetic coupling generating negative magnetic coupling. In this element, the magnetic field shift is reduced. Furthermore, the invention provides a magnetoresistive element in which at least one of the magnetic layers sandwiching the intermediate layer includes an oxide ferrite having a plane orientation with a (100), (110) or (111) plane. A magnetic field is introduced in a direction of the axis of easy magnetization in the plane. This oxide can be formed by sputtering with an oxide target while applying a bias voltage to a substrate including a plane on which the oxide ferrite is to be formed so as to adjust the amount of oxygen supplied to the oxide ferrite from the target.

Magnetoresistive element, method for manufacturing the same, and method for forming a compound magnetic thin film

The present invention provides a magnetoresistive element in which discontinuity at a barrier layer interface is provided by utilizing a layered-perovskite oxide, and a device in which the foregoing magnetoresistive element is used. The element of the present invention includes a layered-perovskite oxide having a composition expressed by a formula L (A R ) A M O and including a (L-O) layer in its crystalline structure, and a pair of ferromagnetic bodies formed in contact with the layer perovskite oxide so as to sandwich the oxide. In response to bias application via the (L-O) layer, a magnetoresistive tunnel effect appears. In the foregoing formula, A represents at least one alkaline earth element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, L represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Bi, Tl, and Pb, M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cu, Ru, Ni, Mn, Co, Fe, and Cr, R represents a rare earth element, n is 1, 2, or 3, and x and z are numerical values satisfying &minus;1&lE;x&lE;1, and 0&lE;z<1, respectively.

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Nara, Japan

Nozomu Matukawa