Calculation of giant magnetoresistance in Fe/Cr/Fe and Co/Cr/Co sandwiches

Author

Takahashi, Y. ; Inomata, Koichiro

Author_Institution

Toshiba Corp., Kawasaki, Japan

Volume

29

Issue

6

fYear

1993

fDate

11/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2723

Lastpage

2725

Abstract

The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) vs. interfacial roughness in sandwich structures of Fe/Cr/Fe and Co/Cr/Co is calculated numerically by using the recursive formula for the DC conductivity under the condition of the perfect specular scattering at surfaces. Small magnetoresistances of 3.6 and -1.9% are obtained for Fe/Cr/Fe and Co/Cr/Co, respectively, even in the case of no interfacial roughness, because of the difference in effective masses of electrons under the potential fields of respective magnetic configurations in the sandwich structure. The spin-dependent interfacial scattering due to interfacial roughness is the major contribution to the GMR, which is more remarkable for Fe/Cr/Fe than for Co/Cr/Co because of the fact that the energy levels of minority spin electrons at Fe and Co atomic sites are equal to and lower, to some extent, than the one at the Cr atomic site, respectively. It is found that the most favorable probability of atomic mixing at interfaces is 30-40% for both sandwiches

Keywords

antiferromagnetic properties of substances; chromium; cobalt; ferromagnetic properties of substances; iron; magnetic multilayers; magnetoresistance; surface scattering; Co-Cr-Fe; Co/Cr/Co sandwiches; DC conductivity; Fe-Cr-Fe; Fe/Cr/Fe sandwiches; giant magnetoresistance; interfacial roughness; magnetic multilayers; perfect specular scattering; probability of atomic mixing; recursive formula; spin-dependent interfacial scattering; Chromium; Conductivity; Effective mass; Electrons; Giant magnetoresistance; Iron; Rough surfaces; Sandwich structures; Scattering; Surface roughness;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.280931

Filename

280931