A specular layer and a nonmagnetic layer are provided on a central portion of
a
free magnetic layer, and ferromagnetic layers and second antiferromagnetic layers
are provided on both end portions of the free magnetic layer. In the present invention,
the total thickness of the specular layer and the nonmagnetic layer can be decreased,
and thus ion milling for removing the layers from both end portions of the free
magnetic layer can be performed with low energy. Therefore, both end portions of
the free magnetic layer are less damaged by ion milling, and ferromagnetic coupling
produced between both end portions of the free magnetic layer and the ferromagnetic
layers can be increased, thereby permitting appropriate control of magnetization
of the free magnetic layer.
