Multilayers and perovskites rewrite rules of resistance
In the 170 years since George Ohm identified a fundamental rule of electric current, his eponymous law has become almost as immutable as Newton`s law of gravity: In a metallic conductor at normal temperatures, electric current is proportioned to the applied voltage and inversely proportional to the metal`s resistance. But 10 years ago, Peter Gruenberg of the Juelich Research Center in Germany investigated a metallic structure that did not appear to obey Ohm`s law. He constructed a sandwich of two iron layers separated by a thin film of chromium and found that at constant voltage he could vary the current through the sandwich simply by applying a magnetic field. The resistance of the structure could be changed with a magnetic field. This phenomenon has been exploited by high-tech companies while theorists try to future out the mechanism of magnetoresistance. This article discusses new research in the area.
- OSTI ID:
- 387401
- Journal Information:
- Science, Vol. 273, Issue 5277; Other Information: PBD: 16 Aug 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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