GMR in DC magnetron sputtered Ni{sub 81}Fe{sub 19}/Cu multilayers

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · IEEE Transactions on Magnetics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/20.706310· OSTI ID:649509

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

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

In this paper, the authors present results of a study on Ni{sub 81}Fe{sub 19}/Cu magnetic multilayers (MLs) deposited using a four-source DC magnetron sputtering system operated in planetary mode. A significant change of GMR value with deposition conditions, especially base pressure and deposition pressure, has been observed for Ni{sub 81}Fe{sub 19}/Cu MLs. With an optimized process, they have obtained a GMR response of 9.5% with a field sensitivity of 0.44%/Oe for Si/ [(Ni{sub 81}Fe{sub 19})17{angstrom}/Cu20{angstrom}]{sub 20} MLs without an Fe buffer layer. The insertion of a very thin layer of a second magnetic species at nonmagnetic/magnetic interfaces in the ML stack makes GMR response either sensitive or less sensitive to deposition conditions depending on the species selected. They believe that the key to obtaining large GMR values in Ni{sub 81}Fe{sub 19}/Cu MLs lies in the control of layered structure and interfacial chemistry. In addition, these Ni{sub 81}Fe{sub 19}/Cu MLs survive high temperature annealing up to 250 C, retaining a GMR value of 8.5%.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 649509
• Report Number(s): CONF-980102--
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Magnetics Journal Issue: 4Pt1 Vol. 34; ISSN IEMGAQ; ISSN 0018-9464
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANNEALING
COPPER
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INTERFACES
IRON ALLOYS
LAYERS
MAGNETORESISTANCE
NICKEL BASE ALLOYS
SPUTTERING
SURFACE COATING