Enhancement of perpendicular and parallel giant magnetoresistance with the number of bilayers in Fe/Cr superlattices
- Department of Physics, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0319 (United States)
- Materials Sciences Division, National Center for Electron Microscopy, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
We have correlated a detailed quantitative structural analysis by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and high spatial resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy imaging, with the magnetization and anisotropic magnetotransport properties in sputtered Fe/Cr superlattices. To accomplish this, we developed a technique for magnetotransport measurements in metallic superlattices with the current perpendicular to the plane of the layers (CPP). Using microfabrication techniques, we have fabricated microstructured Fe/Cr pillars embedded in SiO{sub 2} and interconnected with Nb electrodes. Because of the uniform current distribution in the Nb electrodes and the minimization of the superlattice-electrode contact resistance, the method allows a simple and independent measurement of the superlattice resistance and giant magnetoresistance (GMR). Structural and magnetic characterization of [Fe (3 nm)/Cr (1.2 nm)]{sub N} superlattices (where N is the number of repetitions) indicate that the roughness is correlated and increases cumulatively through the superlattice stack with no significant change in the antiferromagnetic coupling. Both the current in-plane and CPP GMR increase with N as the roughness increases. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
- OSTI ID:
- 20217226
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 62, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: 1 Aug 2000; ISSN 1098-0121
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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