Hard bias structure with antiparallel layers

1. A magnetic head, comprising:

a sensor having a free layer, the free layer having a magnetic moment; and

hard bias structures positioned towards opposite ends of the sensor, the hard bias structures stabilizing the magnetic moment of the free layer, each hard bias structure comprising;

an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure, the AP pinned layer structure having a middle pinned layer aligned along a plane of the free layer of the sensor, and outer pinned layers positioned on opposite sides of the middle pinned layer; and

an antiferromagnetic layer positioned towards each of the AP pinned layer structures, each antiferromagnetic layer stabilizing a magnetic moment of the pinned layer closest thereto.

2. A head as recited in claim 1 , wherein a net magnetic moment of the AP pinned layer structure is about zero.

3. A head as recited in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the middle pinned layer is at least as thick as the free layer of the sensor.

4. A head as recited in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the middle pinned layer is at least twice as thick as the free layer of the sensor.

5. A head as recited in claim 1 , wherein the outer pinned layers are misaligned from the free layer.

6. A head as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pinned layers of the AP pinned layer structure each include at least Co, wherein the pinned layers are separated by a layer of Ru.

7. A head as recited in claim 1 , wherein the antiferromagnetic layers each include at least one of PtMn and IrMn.

8. A magnetic storage system, comprising:

magnetic media;

at least one head for reading from and writing to the magnetic media, each head having:

a reading portion having the structure recited in claim 1 ;

a write element coupled to the sensor;

a slider for supporting the head; and

a control unit coupled to the head for controlling operation of the head.

9. A head as recited in claim 1 , wherein a net magnetic moment of the AP pinned layer structure is about zero.

10. A head as recited in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first pinned layer is at least as thick as the free layer of the sensor.

11. A head as recited in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first pinned layer is at least twice as thick as the free layer of the sensor.

12. A head as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least second pinned layer is misaligned from the free layer.

13. A magnetic head, comprising:

a sensor having a free layer, the free layer having a magnetic moment; and

hard bias structures positioned towards opposite ends of the sensor, the hard bias structures stabilizing the magnetic moment of the free layer, each hard bias structure comprising;

an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure, the AP pinned layer structure having a first pinned layer aligned along a plane of the free layer of the sensor, and at least a second pinned layer for pinning a magnetic orientation of the first pinned layer; and

an antiferromagnetic layer positioned towards each of the AP pinned layer structures, each antiferromagnetic layer stabilizing a magnetic moment of the pinned layer closest thereto.

14. A magnetic head, comprising:

a sensor having a free layer, the free layer having a magnetic moment; and

hard bias structures positioned towards opposite ends of the sensor, the hard bias structures stabilizing the magnetic moment of the free layer, each hard bias structure comprising;

an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure, the AP pinned layer structure having a first pinned layer aligned along a plane of the free layer of the sensor, and at least a second pinned layer for pinning a magnetic orientation of the first pinned layer;

wherein each AP pinned layer structure includes a middle pinned layer aligned along a plane of the free layer of the sensor, and outer pinned layers positioned on opposite sides of the middle pinned layer.

15. A magnetic head, comprising:

a sensor having a free layer, the free layer having a magnetic moment; and

hard bias structures positioned towards opposite ends of the sensor, the hard bias structures stabilizing the magnetic moment of the free layer, each hard bias structure comprising;

an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure, the AP pinned layer structure having a first pinned layer aligned along a plane of the free layer of the sensor, and at least a second pinned layer for pinning a magnetic orientation of the first pinned layer;

wherein a thickness of the first pinned layer is at least twice as thick as the free layer of the sensor.

16. A magnetic head, comprising:

a sensor having a free layer, the free layer having a magnetic moment; and

hard bias structures positioned towards opposite ends of the sensor, the hard bias structures stabilizing the magnetic moment of the free layer, each hard bias structure comprising;

an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure, the AP pinned layer structure having a first pinned layer aligned along a plane of the free layer of the sensor, and at least a second pinned layer for pinning a magnetic orientation of the first pinned layer,

wherein a thickness of the first pinned layer is at least as thick as the free layer of the sensor.

17. A head as recited in claim 16 , wherein a net magnetic moment of the AP pinned layer structure is about zero.

18. A head as recited in claim 16 , wherein the at least second pinned layer is misaligned from the free layer.

19. A magnetic storage system, comprising:

magnetic media;

at least one head for reading from and writing to the magnetic media, each head having:

a reading portion having the structure recited in claim 16 ;

a write element coupled to the sensor;

a slider for supporting the head; and

a control unit coupled to the head for controlling operation of the head.