Second-harmonic magneto-optic Kerr effect from spin-valve test structures: correlation with magnetoresistance response

Author

Crawford, T.M. ; Rogers, C.T. ; Silva, T.J. ; Kim, Y.K.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., Colorado Univ., Boulder, CO, USA

Volume

33

Issue

5

fYear

1997

fDate

9/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

3598

Lastpage

3600

Abstract

We have simultaneously measured the second-harmonic magneto-optic Kerr effect and the magnetoresistance of patterned Ta/Ni₈₁Fe ₁₉/Cu/Ni₈₁Fe₁₉/Ta spin-valve test structures. For fields applied parallel to the bias-current direction, we observed a one-to-one correlation between the magnetoresistance and the magnetization-dependent second-harmonic intensity. The dependence of the second-harmonic intensity on magnetic field indicates that the detected second-harmonic response arises largely from the top Ni₈₁Fe₁₉/Ta interface. The existence of this one-to-one correlation implies that the second harmonic depends linearly on magnetization, thus offering a method for interface-specific magnetometry

Keywords

Kerr magneto-optical effect; copper; ferromagnetic materials; giant magnetoresistance; iron alloys; magnetic multilayers; magnetisation; nickel alloys; optical harmonic generation; soft magnetic materials; tantalum; Ta-Ni₈₁Fe₁₉-Cu-Ni₈₁Fe₁₉-Ta; bias-current direction; interface-specific magnetometry; magnetic field; magnetization-dependent second-harmonic intensity; magnetoresistance response; patterned Ta/Ni₈₁Fe₁₉/Cu/Ni₈₁Fe₁₉/Ta spin-valve; second-harmonic intensity; second-harmonic magneto-optic Kerr effect; spin-valve test structures; top Ni₈₁Fe₁₉/Ta interface; Kerr effect; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetic materials; Magnetic multilayers; Magnetic properties; Magnetooptic effects; Optical films; Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.619509

Filename

619509