A magnetoresistive effect element includes: a first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer; and a non-magnetic layer provided between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, wherein the non-magnetic layer includes a first layer and a second layer, and wherein a lattice constant α of the first layer and a lattice constant β of the second layer satisfy a relationship of β−0.04×α≤2×α≤β+0.04 ×α.

A magnetoresistance effect element and a Heusler alloy in which a state change due to annealing does not easily occur. The element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a non-magnetic layer positioned between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, in which at least one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer is a Heusler alloy in which a portion of elements of an alloy represented by Co.sub.2Fe.sub.αZ.sub.β is substituted with a substitution element, in which Z is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Ga, Ge, and Sn, α and β satisfy 2.3≤α+β, α<β, and 0.5<α<1.9, and the substitution element is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of elements having a melting point higher than that of Fe among elements of Groups 4 to 10.

The present disclosure generally relate to spin-orbit torque (SOT) magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices comprising a topological insulator (TI) modulation layer. The TI modulation layer comprises a plurality of bismuth or bismuth-rich composition modulation layers, a plurality of TI lamellae layers comprising BiSb having a (012) crystal orientation, and a plurality of texturing layers. The TI lamellae layers comprise dopants or clusters of atoms, the clusters of atoms comprising a carbide, a nitride, an oxide, or a composite ceramic material. The clusters of atoms are configured to have a grain boundary glass forming temperature of less than about 400° C. Doping the TI lamellae layers comprising BiSb having a (012) crystal orientation with clusters of atoms comprising a carbide, a nitride, an oxide, or a composite ceramic material enable the SOT MTJ device to operate at higher temperatures while inhibiting migration of Sb from the BiSb of the TI lamellae layers.

The present disclosure generally relate to spin-orbit torque (SOT) magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices comprising a topological insulator (TI) modulation layer. The TI modulation layer comprises a plurality of bismuth or bismuth-rich composition modulation layers, a plurality of TI lamellae layers comprising BiSb having a (012) crystal orientation, and a plurality of texturing layers. The TI lamellae layers comprise dopants or clusters of atoms, the clusters of atoms comprising a carbide, a nitride, an oxide, or a composite ceramic material. The clusters of atoms are configured to have a grain boundary glass forming temperature of less than about 400° C. Doping the TI lamellae layers comprising BiSb having a (012) crystal orientation with clusters of atoms comprising a carbide, a nitride, an oxide, or a composite ceramic material enable the SOT MTJ device to operate at higher temperatures while inhibiting migration of Sb from the BiSb of the TI lamellae layers.

A storage element is provided. The storage element includes a memory layer; a fixed magnetization layer; an intermediate layer including a non-magnetic material; wherein the intermediate layer is provided between the memory layer and the fixed magnetization layer; wherein the fixed magnetization layer includes at least a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic layer, and wherein the first magnetic layer includes a CoFeB composition. A memory apparatus and a magnetic head are also provided.

A magnetoresistance effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, a first non-magnetic layer; and a second non-magnetic layer, wherein, the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer are formed so that at least one of them includes a Heusler alloy layer, the first non-magnetic layer is provided between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, the second non-magnetic layer is in contact with any surface of the Heusler alloy layer and has a discontinuous portion with respect to a lamination surface, and the second non-magnetic layer is made of a material different from that of the first non-magnetic layer and is a (001)-oriented oxide containing Mg.

A film stack for a magnetic tunnel comprises a substrate, a magnetic reference layer disposed over the substrate, and a tunnel barrier layer disposed over the magnetic reference layer. The film stack further comprises a magnetic storage layer disposed over the tunnel barrier layer, and a capping layer disposed over the magnetic storage layer. Further, the film stack comprises at least one protection layer disposed between the magnetic reference layer and the tunnel barrier layer and disposed between the magnetic storage layer and the capping layer. Additionally, a material forming the at least one protection layer differs from at least one of a material forming the magnetic reference layer and a material forming the magnetic storage layer.

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to magnetic recording heads of magnetic recording devices. A read head includes a first reader, an insulating separation layer, and a second reader disposed above the insulating separation layer. The second reader includes a magnetic seed layer and a cap layer. The second reader includes a first upper free layer disposed between the magnetic seed layer and the cap layer, and a second upper free layer disposed between the first upper free layer and the cap layer. The second reader includes a barrier layer. In one implementation the second reader includes an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer disposed between the magnetic seed layer and the insulating separation layer to pin the magnetic seed layer.

The present disclosure generally relates to magnetic storage devices, such as magnetic tape drives, comprising a read head. The read head comprises a plurality of read sensors disposed between a lower shield having a first width in a stripe height direction and an upper shield. The plurality of read sensors comprise an antiferromagnetic layer and a free layer comprising a first layer and a second layer. A plurality of soft bias side shields disposed adjacent to and outwardly of the plurality of read sensors in a cross-track direction, each of the plurality of soft bias side shields having a second width in the stripe height direction less than the first width. Each of the plurality of soft bias side shields are spaced a first distance from the lower shield and a second distance from the upper shield, the first distance being substantially equal to the second distance.

The present disclosure generally relates to read heads having dual free layer (DFL) sensors. The read head has a sensor disposed between two shields. The sensor is a DFL sensor and has a surface at the media facing surface (MFS). Recessed from the DFL sensor, and from the MFS, is a rear hard bias (RHB) structure. The RHB structure is disposed between the shields as well. In between the DFL sensor and the RHB structure is insulating material. The RHB is disposed on the insulating material. The RHB includes a RHB seed layer as well as a RHB bulk layer. The RHB bulk layer includes a first bulk layer and a second bulk layer, the first bulk layer having a different density relative to the second bulk layer.