Method for fabricating a magnetic recording transducer

1. A method for fabricating a magnetic recording transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) comprising:

providing a pinned layer for a magnetoresistive element;

transferring a part of the magnetic recording transducer that includes the pinned layer to a high vacuum annealing apparatus before annealing the part of the magnetic recording transducer, the step of transferring the part of the magnetic recording transducer including the pinned layer is performed while precluding exposure of the part of the magnetic recording transducer to an ambient environment;

annealing the part of the magnetic recording transducer including the pinned layer in the high vacuum annealing apparatus at an annealing temperature higher than a room temperature;

providing a tunneling barrier layer for the magnetoresistive element after the step of annealing the part of the magnetic recording transducer; and

providing a free layer for the magnetoresistive element, the tunneling barrier layer being between the free layer and the pinned layer, the magnetoresistive element including the pinned layer, the tunneling barrier layer and the free layer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the annealing temperature is not more than four hundred degrees centigrade.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the annealing temperature is not more than two hundred degrees centigrade.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the annealing temperature is at least one hundred degrees centigrade.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the high vacuum is not more than 9×10 −8 Torr.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the high vacuum is not more than 5×10 −8 Torr.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the high vacuum is not more than 2×10 −8 Torr.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the high vacuum is not more than 8×10 −9 Torr.