Magnetic properties of specular spin-valves containing nano-oxide layers

Author

Kools, J.C.S. ; Sant, S.B. ; Rook, K. ; Xiong, W. ; Dahmani, Faiz ; Ye, W. ; Nunez-Regueiro, J. ; Kawana, Y. ; Mao, M. ; Koi, K. ; Iwasaki, H. ; Sahashi, M.

Author_Institution

Veeco Instrum., San Jose, CA, USA

Volume

37

Issue

4

fYear

2001

fDate

7/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1783

Lastpage

1785

Abstract

Nano-Oxide Layers (NOL) have been introduced recently as a means to enhance the degree of specular scattering at the outer surfaces in a spin-valve, while still using metallic antiferromagnets such as PtMn or IrMn. A key requirement of the NOL layer in the pinned layer is to be able to provide strong ferromagnetic coupling between two ferromagnetic layers. In this paper, a quantitative study of the ferromagnetic interlayer coupling over the NOL-layer is presented. A Stoner-Wohlfarth model is developed to allow for quantitative analysis. The effect of different metal deposition methods (PVD or IBD), different pinning structures (PtMn and IrMn; simple and synthetic) and different oxidation methods on the coupling is compared

Keywords

nanostructured materials; oxidation; spin valves; surface scattering; IBD; IrMn; PVD; PtMn; Stoner-Wohlfarth model; ferromagnetic interlayer coupling; magnetic properties; magnetoresistance; metallic antiferromagnet; nano-oxide layer; oxidation; pinning structure; specular surface scattering; spin valve; Antiferromagnetic materials; Atherosclerosis; Displays; Electrons; Iron; Magnetic properties; Oxidation; Reflection; Scattering; Thermal stability;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.950967

Filename

950967