An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a sensor having an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, a spacer between the active region and the magnetic shield, a second magnetic shield on an opposite side of the active region as the magnetic shield, and a second spacer between the active region and the second magnetic shield. Both spacers include an electrically conductive ceramic layer. The electrically conductive ceramic layer of the spacer has a different composition than the electrically conductive ceramic layer of the second spacer.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a sensor having an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, and a spacer between the active region and the magnetic shield. The spacer includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a sensor having an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, a magnetic shield adjacent the tunnel magnetoresistive region, and a spacer between the tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The spacer includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer.

A magnetic sensor that generates a signal based on inverse spin Hall effect. The sensor includes a magnetic free layer and a non-magnetic, electrically conductive spin Hall layer located adjacent to the magnetic free layer. Circuitry is configured to supply an electrical current that travels through the magnetic free layer and the spin Hall layer in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the plane of the layers or perpendicular to a plane defined by an interface between the magnetic free layer and the spin Hall layer. The inverse spin Hall effect causes an electrical voltage in the spin Hall layer as a result of the current, and the voltage changes relative to the orientation of magnetization of the magnetic free layer. Circuitry is provided for measuring the voltage in the spin Hall layer in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of the electrical current.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording and reproducing device includes a magnetic recording medium, and a magnetic head including a first reproducing unit. The first reproducing unit includes a first magnetic field generator separated from the magnetic recording medium in a first direction, and a first stacked body. At least a portion of the first stacked body is provided between the magnetic recording medium and the first magnetic field generator in the first direction. The first stacked body includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer separated from the first magnetic layer in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a first intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The first stacked body performs an operation of generating a first alternating magnetic field. The first magnetic field generator generates a first magnetic field.