Field-dependent thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity in multilayered and granular giant magnetoresistive systems

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.54.15273· OSTI ID:397613

Shi, J ^[1]; Pettit, K ^[2]; Kita, E ^[3]; Parkin, S S ^[4]; Nakatani, R ^[5]; Salamon, M B ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 (United States)
2. Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801 (United States)
3. Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305 (Japan)
4. IBMAlmaden Research Center, San Jose, California 95120-6099 (United States)
5. Central Research Laboratory, Hitachi Ltd., Kokubunji, Tokyo 185 (Japan)

The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect in granular and multilayer thin films has been widely investigated because of possible device applications. Despite this intensive effort, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the effect have not been identified. We present measurements of the thermoelectric power (TEP) and thermal conductivity on a wide variety of granular and multilayer GMR systems. The strong magnetic field dependences of both the TEP and the thermal conductivity are found to be closely related to the magnetoresistance. The TEP measurements require that the high density of states in the ferromagnetic materials play a major role in the GMR effect. The thermal conductivity measurements indicate that the scattering mechanisms in granular samples are elastic while multilayer samples have a significant inelastic, spin-flip component. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• Research Organization: University of Illinois
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-91ER45439
• OSTI ID: 397613
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 54; ISSN 0163-1829; ISSN PRBMDO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ENERGY-LEVEL DENSITY
FERROMAGNETISM
GRANULAR MATERIALS
MAGNETIC FIELD EFFECTS
MAGNETORESISTANCE
MULTILAYERS
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES
THIN FILMS