A method and system for providing a magnetoresistive structure is
disclosed. The magnetoresistive structure includes a pinned layer, a
nonmagnetic spacer layer, a free layer, a filter layer, a specular layer,
a barrier layer, and a capping layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer
resides between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer is
electrically conductive and resides between the filter layer and the
nonmagnetic spacer layer. The specular layer includes a first material
and is electrically insulating. The barrier layer resides between the
specular oxide layer and the capping layer. The barrier layer is
nonmagnetic and includes a second material different material from the
first material. The capping layer includes a third material different
from the second material.