Magnetotransport Properties in Antiferromagnetically Exchange-Coupled Ni/TbFeCo/Ni Trilayers

Magnetic properties and magnetotransport properties of Ni/TbFeCo/Ni trilayers have been studied. Due to the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between Tb and FeCo, antiparallel aligned spins of FeCo and Ni can be obtained at the interfaces. Interesting hysteresis loops are observed for the trilayers. Most importantly, magnetoresistance has been observed at the spin flop where FeCo and Ni layer tend to have their moment antiparallel aligned. Such kind of magnetoresistance can be explained by the formation of a sharp “domain wall” composing of antiparallel aligned 3d electrons at the interfaces.