Dual magnetoresistive head for very high density recording

A dual magnetoresistive (DMR) reproduce head consisting of two nominally identical, adjacent magnetoresistive stripes separated by a conductive spacer is demonstrated. This two-terminal device is relatively simple to fabricate, does not require magnetic shields for high linear resolution, is self-biased, and is immune to electrical shorting between MR elements. The measured output voltage vs. recorded density agrees well with theoretical predictions. For large linear record densities >100 kFCI, more advanced DMR designs are theoretically predicted to achieve signal levels comparable to the most advanced shielded MR heads yet demonstrated, and with more robust fabrication and yield. The relative simplicity and robustness of the DMR will likely make it an attractive alternative for certain very high (linear) density applications. >