Exchange coupling energy between an anti-ferromagnetic layer and a first
ferromagnetic layer, and an anti-ferromagnetic coupling energy between
the first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer by way of
an Ru anti-ferromagnetic coupling layer of a spin valve device are
increased thereby increasing the magnetoresistance ratio and decreasing
the coercivity of the free layer of the spin valve film. In an MnPt
anti-ferromagnetic bottom type synthetic ferri-type spin valve film in
which an underlayer, an anti-ferromagnetic layer comprising MnPt, a first
ferromagnetic layer comprising CoFe, an anti-ferromagnetic coupling layer
comprising Ru, a second ferromagnetic layer comprising CoFe, an
intermediate non-magnetic layer comprising Cu, a free layer comprising
synthetic films of CoFe and NiFe and a protective layer are stacked over
a substrate, the Fe composition X in CoFeX of the first ferromagnetic
layer is set as about: 20