Giant magetoresistance in epitaxial sputtered Fe/Cr(211) superlattices (abstract)

Journal Article · Sun May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of Applied Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.356734· OSTI ID:7207533

Conover, M J; Fullerton, E E; 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)

We report giant magnetoresistance (GMR) as high as 150% at 4.2 K in epitaxial Fe/Cr superlattices. Samples prepared by magnetron sputtering on MgO(100) produced the expected Fe/Cr(100) orientation; however, deposition on MgO(110) produced a novel (211) low-miller-index orientation. The crystallographic orientations and superlattice nature of the samples were confirmed by both low- and high-angle x-ray diffraction. The Fe/Cr(211) superlattices have an in-plane uniaxial anisotropy ([ital K][sub [ital U]]=9[times]10[sup 5] ergs/cm[sup 3]) along the Fe[0[bar 1]1] which give the sample a rich magnetic behavior. The GMR with the current along the [0[bar 1]1] is [approx]20% higher than that along the [[bar 1]11] direction of the (211) plane. The GMR for the (211) superlattices shows four oscillations with Cr thickness. Both orientations shows the expected long-period oscillation of 18 A Cr and a GMR increase by a factor a 4 when cooled from room temperature to 4.2 K.

• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 7207533
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (United States) Vol. 75:10; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
CHROMIUM
COHERENT SCATTERING
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
IRON
MAGNETORESISTANCE
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SCATTERING
SPUTTERING
SUPERLATTICES
TEMPERATURE RANGE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0000-0013 K
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION