Title :
Characterization of magnetic and thermal stability of PtMn spin valves
Author :
Mao, Sining ; Gao, Zheng
Author_Institution :
Seagate Recording Heads, Minneapolis, MN, USA
fDate :
9/1/2000 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A PtMn pinned top spin valve was made by DC sputtering with good GMR properties. GMR ratio of 14.7% and dR of 2.4 ohms/sq. were obtained for the optimum process. The pinning reversal process is a function of time, temperature, and applied field. For a typical spin valve the pinning field reverses around 300°C under a field of 1000 Oe which is sufficient for head application. Furthermore, the PtMn antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer can be made into a thin layer of 100 A with a relatively high blocking temperature of 380°C. Between room temperature and 200°C, the GMR responses are highly reversible for both sheet films and finished PtMn spin valve heads
Keywords :
antiferromagnetic materials; giant magnetoresistance; magnetic heads; manganese alloys; platinum alloys; spin valves; sputter deposition; thermal stability; 100 angstrom; 20 to 200 degC; 300 degC; 380 degC; DC sputtering; GMR properties; GMR ratio; PtMn; antiferromagnetic layer; applied field; blocking temperature; magnetic stability; pinned top spin valve; pinning field; pinning reversal process; sheet films; spin valve heads; thermal stability; Annealing; Lattices; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetic heads; Spin valves; Sputtering; Temperature sensors; Testing; Thermal stability; X-ray scattering;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
