Noise and discontinuities in GMR transfer curves

Author

Nichols, Mark

Author_Institution

Maxtor Corp., Milpitas, CA, USA

Volume

38

Issue

5

fYear

2002

fDate

9/1/2002 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2456

Lastpage

2458

Abstract

High-frequency switching between discrete resistance states has been observed in giant magnetoresistive (GMR) read elements when they are exposed to specific magnetic fields. These high-frequency switching events appear as popcorn like noise spikes when sampled though a high-frequency channel, or as a discontinuity in a resistance versus field, R(H), curve sampled through a low-frequency channel on a quasi-static tester (QST). Both instantaneous and smooth R(H) discontinuities have been found to be caused by high-frequency field dependent GMR switching, and appear different due to filtering effects.

Keywords

giant magnetoresistance; magnetic heads; magnetic recording noise; magnetic switching; magnetoresistive devices; signal sampling; GMR read elements; GMR transfer curves; discrete resistance states; filtering effects; high-frequency channel sampling; high-frequency switching events; instantaneous discontinuities; low-frequency channel sampling; popcorn like noise spikes; quasi-static tester; resistance versus field curve; smooth discontinuities; Filtering; Giant magnetoresistance; Low-frequency noise; Magnetic fields; Magnetic heads; Magnetic noise; Magnetic separation; Magnetic switching; Oscilloscopes; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMAG.2002.803591

Filename

1042219