Magneto-optical indicator film study of the magnetization of a symmetric spin valve

Author

Nikitenko, V.I. ; Gornakov, V.S. ; Dedukh, L.M. ; Kabanov, Yu P. ; Khapikov, A.F. ; Bennett, L.H. ; Chen, P.J. ; McMichael, R.D. ; Donahue, M.J. ; Swartzendruber, L.J. ; Shapiro, A.J. ; Brown, H.J. ; Egelhoff, W.F., Jr.

Author_Institution

Inst. of Solid State Phys., Acad. of Sci., Chernogolovka, Russia

Volume

32

Issue

5

fYear

1996

fDate

9/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

4639

Lastpage

4641

Abstract

A magneto-optical indicator film (MOIF) technique is used for direct experimental study of the magnetization reversal process in a symmetric NiO/Co/Cu/NiFe/Cu/Co/NiO spin valve. It is shown for the first time that the reversal of the free center layer proceeds by nonuniform magnetization rotation. The observed switching mechanism is presumed to be associated with the influence of the nonuniform magnetostatic field that follows from surface roughness and the polycrystalline structure of the magnetic layers

Keywords

cobalt; copper; iron alloys; magnetic multilayers; magnetisation reversal; magneto-optical effects; nickel alloys; nickel compounds; NiO-Co-Cu-NiFe-Cu-Co-NiO; magnetization reversal; magneto-optical indicator film; magnetostatic field; nonuniform magnetization rotation; polycrystalline magnetic layer; surface roughness; switching; symmetric spin valve; Giant magnetoresistance; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetic separation; Magnetic switching; Magnetization reversal; Magnetooptic effects; Magnetostatics; Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; Spin valves; Switches;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.539103

Filename

539103