Calculation of the canting angle dependence of the resistivity in Cu{vert_bar}Co spin valves

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.364922· OSTI ID:496423

Brown, R H; Nicholson, D M; Butler, W H; Zhang, X; Shelton, W A ^[1]; Schulthess, T C ^[2]; MacLaren, J M ^[3]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6114 (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)
3. Department of Physics, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 (United States)

We consider the in-plane electrical conductivity of a spin valve, specifically, a system consisting of a copper slab between two cobalt slabs. We calculate the dependence of the resistivity on the canting angle, where the canting angle {theta} is defined as the angle between the magnetization vectors of two ferromagnetic slabs in a spin valve. To calculate the electronic structure, we utilize the layer-KKR formalism. Electron scattering by impurities, phonons, magnons, etc. is modeled using a layer and spin-dependent complex self-energy. Scattering rates are chosen to match Cu and Co resistivities. We assume a spin asymmetry scattering rate factor of 7 in Co, matching the Fermi-level minority-to-majority density-of-states ratio. No additional interfacial scattering is included. The nonlocal layer dependent conductivity is calculated using the Kubo{endash}Greenwood formula for systems consisting of 3 and 7 monolayer fcc (111) Cu slabs in Co. We find electron channeling in Cu dominates the conductivity and at {theta}={pi}/2 the resistivity is increased by 4.9{percent} and 2.3{percent} from a linear 1{minus}cos{theta} dependence. We find giant magnetoresistive GMR values of 64{percent} and 36{percent} for 3 and 7 monolayers of Cu, respectively. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-96OR22464; W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 496423
• Report Number(s): CONF-961141--
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 81; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COBALT
COPPER
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
FERMI LEVEL
FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY
LAYERS
MAGNETORESISTANCE
MAGNONS
ORNL
PHONONS
SCATTERING
SPIN ORIENTATION