Title :
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
fDate :
9/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
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 Ni81 Fe19/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;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
