GMR of Co/Cu multilayers with reduced hysteresis and low-field response

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · IEEE Transactions on Magnetics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/20.619488· OSTI ID:566376

Mao, M; Gibbons, M; Law, B; Grabner, F; Vernon, S P; Cerjan, C ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)

The authors present the results of a systematic study on optimization of the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) response in Co/Cu multilayers (MLs) for Cu layer thickness near the second oscillatory peak. Co/Cu MLs with alternating thick (t{sub Co}{sup (1)}) and thin (t{sub Co}{sup (2)}) Co layers have been prepared in the form of [Cot{sub Co}{sup (1)}{angstrom}/Cu20{angstrom}/Cot{sub Co}{sup (2)}{angstrom}/Cu20{angstrom}]{sub 15}. They have found that the magnetoresistive hysteresis of these MLs is reduced with decreasing t{sub Co}{sup (2)} and has disappeared when t{sub Co}{sup (2)} < 4.5 {angstrom}. They have obtained an optimal GMR response with a field sensitivity of 0.13%/Oe over a field region of {approximately}60 Oe centered at {approximately}50 Oe. This architecture may enable the use of Cu/Co MLs in low-field magnetic sensor applications.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 566376
• Report Number(s): CONF-970468--
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Magnetics Journal Issue: 5Pt2 Vol. 33; ISSN IEMGAQ; ISSN 0018-9464
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COBALT
COPPER
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LAYERS
MAGNETORESISTANCE
THICKNESS
USES