Effect of magnetostatic coupling between free and reference layers on the thermal stability of synthetic spin valves

Author

Cho, Hae Seok ; Tang, Michael ; He, Qing ; Xue, Song S.

Author_Institution

Seagate Technol., Minneapolis, MN, USA

Volume

36

Issue

5

fYear

2000

fDate

9/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2863

Lastpage

2865

Abstract

A relationship between initial ferromagnetic magnetostatic coupling strength (H_F) and a long-term thermal stability of the spin valve (SSV) sensors was investigated. The thermal degradation in GMR properties of SV stacks is more apparent in the stack exhibiting a higher initial H_F, and is expedited for the stacks without capping layers. Initial H_F values appear to be one of the good indicators for the long-term thermal stability of SV stacks since they reflect the inter-layer microstructure of SV sensor stacks. The origin of H_F is also discussed by comparing measured H_F values with estimated ones

Keywords

giant magnetoresistance; magnetic heads; spin valves; thermal stability; GMR properties; initial ferromagnetic magnetostatic coupling strength; inter-layer microstructure; long-term thermal stability; magnetic heads; reference layers; synthetic spin valves; thermal degradation; Couplings; Giant magnetoresistance; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetic sensors; Magnetostatic waves; Microstructure; Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; Spin valves; Thermal sensors; Thermal stability;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.908610

Filename

908610