A read head shield having improved stability includes a ferromagnetic (FM)
layer and an anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) layer adjacent the FM layer. The FM
layer has a patterned shape and a domain configuration that is defined by
a plurality of local magnetic domains that are stabilized in accordance
with the patterned shape. The AFM layer is annealed to imprint thereon the
stabilized local magnetic domains of the FM layer. The AFM layer operates
to increase the stability of the domain configuration of the FM layer
thereby providing improved resistance to domain configuration shift caused
by the application of a strong magnetic field.
