Giant magnetoresistance materials for read heads

The sensitivity of magnetoresistive read heads can be increased by using layered magnetic materials showing the giant magnetoresistance effect, instead of a single magnetic film showing the anisotropic magnetoresistance effect. For this purpose, exchange-biased spin-valve layered structures are very suitable. For well-chosen compositions and nanometer-scale layer thicknesses these materials combine a fair giant magnetoresistance effect with a very small field interval in which the resistance change takes place. In this paper we give an overview of aspects which determine the functioning of materials of this class in read heads, including their preparation, magnetotransport properties and the magnetic interactions which determine the magnetization reversal process.