Micromagnetic analysis and current biasing of dual-stripe GMR and dual-GMR sensors for high density recording

A micromagnetic model was developed to study a 4-terminal, insulating spacer Dual-Stripe GMR head (DSGMR) operating in differential mode, and a 2-terminal, high resistivity conducting spacer, Dual-GMR head. Pulse shape and magnetization distributions were correlated with current biasing and non-linear effects. For two (NiFe_{20 Å} /Cu_{20 Å})_×10 GMR elements and a gap of 500 Å, the DSGMR shows higher output than the Dual-GMR at frequencies <400 kfci but has a gap null at 570 kfci. The Dual-GMR has a higher output above 400 kfci, but shows no common-mode effect cancellation, characteristic from dual-stripe heads in differential mode. A single element GMR tape head was fabricated and results compared with simulation