For control of crystal grain size in a spin-valve film, a lithographic
technique is needed which exhibits high productivity and enabling
formation of a pattern at about 10 nm. In one embodiment of the
invention, a diblock copolymer comprising polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl
methacrylate (PMMA) is applied to a lower gap layer. When a liquid agent
formed by mixing PS and PMMA is coated, a film structure comprising a
sea-like PS tissue portion and an island-like PMMA tissue portion is
obtained. By applying an ozone RIE treatment to the film structure, the
sea-like PS tissue portion is etched to form a pattern of the island-like
PMMA tissue portion. The lower gap layer is etched by using the
island-like PMMA tissue portion as a resist, then the resist is removed,
and an unevenness pattern arranged regularly on the lower gap layer can
be formed. A spin-valve film is formed on the lower gap layer subjected
to the unevenness fabrication.