A foundation layer increasing
adhesive properties to a substrate, another foundation layer controlling orientation of an antiferromagnetic layer, the antiferromagnetic layer including a disordered
alloy of IrMn, a pinning layer, and a cap
protection layer are formed in the order on the substrate. The pinning layer includes two
layers having an exchange
coupling giving layer which exchange-couples to the antiferromagnetic layer and an exchange
coupling enhancement layer which enhances the exchange
coupling, the exchange coupling giving layer is made of a ferromagnetic material including Co or a Co100-XFeX
alloy (O<=X<25) having face-centered cubic structure. The exchange coupling enhancement layer is made of Fe or a Co100-YFeY
alloy (25<=Y<=100) having body-centered cubic structure.