[Ni/Mn] superlattice-based spin-valves with high thermal stabilities

Author

Choi, K.L. ; Kim, K.M. ; Lee, N.I. ; Kim, M.Y. ; Rhee, J.R. ; Lee, S.S. ; Hwang, D.G. ; Park, C.M.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., Sookmyung Women´´s Univ., Seoul, South Korea

Volume

35

Issue

5

fYear

1999

fDate

9/1/1999 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2943

Lastpage

2945

Abstract

Ni/Mn superlattice-based spin-valve films were fabricated by dc sputtering method. Coercivity (H_c) of the pinned layer and exchange coupling field (H_ex) between the pinned layer and pinning Ni/Mn superlattice with an antiferromagnetic phase were investigated in order to optimize the deposition conditions and annealing process. The thickness of each layer was controlled by deposition time. The H_ex and H_c of Ni/Mn superlattice-based spin-valves increased gradually with the number of annealing cycles and number of bilayers. At the Ni composition of 38 at.% for the annealing time of 12 hours, the largest H_ex and H_c of glass/[Ni/Mn]₅₀/NiFe(60 Å)/Cu(30 Å)/NiFe(60 Å) spin-valves are 305 Oe and 245 Oe, respectively. However, the magnetoresistance (MR) ratio is small, due to the shunting effect of Ni/Mn superlattice and the interdiffusion between NiFe and Cu

Keywords

annealing; antiferromagnetic materials; chemical interdiffusion; coercive force; copper; exchange interactions (electron); ferromagnetic materials; giant magnetoresistance; iron alloys; magnetic multilayers; manganese; nickel; nickel alloys; spin valves; sputter deposition; thermal stability; 12 h; 30 A; 60 A; Ni-Mn-NiFe-Cu-NiFe; Ni/Mn superlattice-based spin-valve films; annealing process; antiferromagnetic phase; bilayers; coercivity; dc sputtering method; deposition conditions; exchange coupling field; glass/Ni/Mn/NiFe/Cu/NiFe spin-valves; high thermal stabilities; interdiffusion; magnetoresistance ratio; pinned layer; pinning Ni/Mn superlattice; shunting effect; Annealing; Antiferromagnetic materials; Atomic layer deposition; Giant magnetoresistance; Glass; Magnetic properties; Magnetic superlattices; Physics; Sputtering; Thermal stability;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.801038

Filename

801038