Oscillatory interlayer coupling and giant magnetoresistance in epitaxial Fe/Cr(211) and (100) superlattices

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.48.15755· OSTI ID:5742694

Fullerton, E E; Conover, M J; Mattson, J E; Sowers, C H; Bader, S D ^[1]

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1. Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)

A epitaxial orientation of Fe/Cr superlattices---Fe/Cr(211) on MgO(110)---is grown by magnetron sputtering. Its structural and magnetic characterizations are presented and compared to those for Fe/Cr(100) superlattices grown simultaneously onto MgO(100) substrates. The epitaxial orientation of the Fe/Cr(211) superlattices is Fe/Cr[0[bar 1]1][parallel]MgO[001] and Fe/Cr[[bar 1]11][parallel]MgO[1[bar 1]0], while that for Fe/Cr(100) is Fe/Cr[001][parallel] MgO[011]. A uniaxial, in-plane surface anisotropy for the Fe/Cr(211) superlattices along the Fe[0[bar 1]1] of 0.06 erg/cm[sup 2] is obtained from analysis of the magnetization hysteresis loops. Four oscillations in the antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling and giant magnetoresistance (GMR) are observed with a period of 18 A for both orientations. The strength, oscillation period, and phase of the magnetic coupling are identical for the two orientations. The GMR values increase by a factor of [similar to]4 to 5 on cooling from room temperature to 4.2 K. At 4.2 K the maximum GMR value of the [Fe(14 A)/Cr(8 A)][sub 50] superlattice is 70% for the (211) orientation and 150% for the (100) orientation.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5742694
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 48:21; ISSN PRBMDO; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
665430 -- Other Topics in Quantum Fluids & Solids-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CHROMIUM
COUPLING
CRYSTALS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
IRON
MAGNETORESISTANCE
METALS
MONOCRYSTALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SUPERLATTICES
TEMPERATURE RANGE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0000-0013 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0013-0065 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0065-0273 K
TRANSITION ELEMENTS