Inverted spin valves with IrMn biasing layer

Author

Zeltser, A.M. ; Pentek, K. ; van der Heijden, P.A.A. ; Chin, T.K. ; Blank, H.-R. ; Zhang, Y.B. ; Trotter, S. ; Speriosu, V.S. ; Jaren, S. ; Nozières, J.P.

Author_Institution

Appl. Magn. Corp., Goleta, CA, USA

Volume

36

Issue

5

fYear

2000

fDate

9/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2626

Lastpage

2628

Abstract

Inverted IrMn-based spin valves (ISV) were fabricated with the aim of low thickness/high output dual spin valve applications. Optimized structures exhibit the following characteristics: H_exch=750 Oe, R_sq.=18.5 Ω/sq., ΔR/R=7.5% and T_b=250°C with IrMn thickness as low as 75 A. The blocking temperature distribution, however, exhibits nonzero components from 150°C onwards. Accordingly, accelerated sheet films lifetime experiments and current heating on full read/write heads show that partial rotations of the pinned layer occur well below T_b. These structures therefore appear to be insufficiently stable for disk-drive applications

Keywords

iridium alloys; magnetic heads; manganese alloys; spin valves; thermal stability; 150 degC; 250 degC; 75 A; IrMn; IrMn biasing layer; accelerated sheet films lifetime experiments; blocking temperature distribution; current heating; disk-drive applications; full read/write heads; inverted spin valves; layer thickness; low thickness/high output dual spin valve applications; magnetoresistive head; optimized structures; pinned layer partial rotations; thermal stability; Acceleration; Heating; Iron; Legged locomotion; Magnetic heads; Magnetoresistance; Magnetostriction; Spin valves; Temperature distribution; Thermal stability;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.908538

Filename

908538