Title :
Magnetization in a spin valve head mapped by an MFM tip
Author :
Song, Dian ; Van Ek, Jan ; Amin, Nurul ; Mao, Sining ; Louder, Darrell ; Schultz, Allan
Author_Institution :
Seagate Technol., Bloomington, MN, USA
fDate :
3/1/1999 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We have mapped the magnetization distribution in a spin valve head by monitoring its magneto-resistance δR, while scanning the sample surface with an MFM tip. We find that conventional tips give enhanced response at two edges of the sensor. In comparison, mapping with horizontally magnetized tips shows no such artifacts. This is because conventional tips produce in-plane magnetic field components in all radial directions, thus the response δR does not simply correspond to local magnetization. In contrast, horizontally magnetized tips produce fields along a single direction. Therefore, mapping of δR renders the approximately single-domain magnetization in our spin valve films
Keywords :
magnetic force microscopy; magnetic heads; magnetisation; spin valves; MFM tip; magnetization distribution; magnetoresistance mapping; sensor; spin valve head; Atomic force microscopy; Electrical resistance measurement; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetic fields; Magnetic films; Magnetic force microscopy; Magnetic heads; Magnetic sensors; Saturation magnetization; Spin valves;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on