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Read Back Signals in Magnetic Recording - Research Group Fidler

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<strong>Read</strong> Head Design<br />

On the other hand the signal field decays with distance from the record<strong>in</strong>g layer (see Section<br />

3.4) and therefore a higher effective (average) signal field is reached for smaller sensor<br />

heights. Thus a compromise must be found. Usual width-to-height ratios are between 1.2 and<br />

1.5.<br />

5.1.2 Hard Bias<br />

To align the magnetization of the free layer hard magnets are used (see Figure 2.4). Usually<br />

the GMR element is placed between two hard magnets, whose static magnetic field effects the<br />

perpendicular alignment <strong>in</strong> respect to the p<strong>in</strong>ned layer. The permanent magnetic fields also<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluence the magnetization of the p<strong>in</strong>ned layer. Therefore the bias<strong>in</strong>g field for the p<strong>in</strong>ned<br />

layer has to overcome the hard bias field.<br />

5.1.3 Exchange Bias<br />

Exchange bias is based on the exchange anisotropy, which was discovered by Meiklejohn and<br />

Bean 50 years ago [32]. They <strong>in</strong>vestigated small Co particles coated with its<br />

antiferromagnetic oxide CoO. A field cool<strong>in</strong>g process, i.e. heat<strong>in</strong>g up above the Néel<br />

temperature and cool<strong>in</strong>g under apply<strong>in</strong>g a magnetic field, leads to a shift of the hysteresis<br />

loop, which is shown <strong>in</strong> Figure 5.1. The exchange bias effect can be characterized by the<br />

displacement of the hysteresis loop, denoted by H ex .<br />

Figure 5.1: The shift of the hysteresis loop after a field cool<strong>in</strong>g treatment of a<br />

ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic system [19] and the temperature dependence of the<br />

exchange bias field for NiFe(4-8nm)/Cu(2.2nm)/CoFe(2nm)/IrMn(15nm) sp<strong>in</strong> valves with<br />

different free layer thicknesses [33].<br />

60

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