Temperature dependence of the magnetoresistance of sputtered Fe/Cr superlattices

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.44.9378· OSTI ID:6002009

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

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1. Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Ilinios (USA)

The temperature dependence of the resistivity of three sputtered Fe/Cr superlattices was analyzed. Two are antiferromagnetic and one is ferromagnetic. Also, a series of Fe/Cr superlattices was characterized as a function of Cr thickness by means of resistivity, Kerr-rotation, and x-ray-diffraction measurements. Magnetoresistance measurements for films with 32-A Fe layers confirm the presence of three oscillations with peaks at {similar to}11, 27, and 42 A Cr. The Kerr-rotation measurements for fixed Fe thicknesses of 15, 25, 32 and 40 A indicate that the first antiferromagnetic region is always between {similar to}6 and 17 A Cr thickness. The low-angle x-ray results show that the structure is not ideal, based on comparison to dynamical simulation or to the quality of similarly prepared Fe/Mo superlattices. The magnetoresistivity of the antiferromagnetic films decays from its maximum value at low temperature with a {ital T}{sup 2} behavior below {similar to}100 K, while a ferromagnetic film could be similarly approximated by a {ital T}{sup 3/2} behavior. These power laws are a consequence of the thermal excitation of magnons in these anisotropic antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic superlattices, respectively. The resistivities due to {ital sd}-interband scattering {rho}{sub {ital s}{ital d}} are approximated by a {ital T}{sup 2} behavior and roughly a {ital T}{sup 3} behavior, respectively. This indicates that for the antiferromagnetic films the dominant contributions to {rho}{sub {ital s}{ital d}} come from processes mediated by magnons as well as phonons.

• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6002009
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 44:17; ISSN PRBMD; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
ANTIFERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
CHROMIUM
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
IRON
KERR EFFECT
MAGNETIC MATERIALS
MAGNETORESISTANCE
MATERIALS
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SUPERLATTICES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TRANSITION ELEMENTS