Title :
Very high sensitivity GMR spin-valve magnetometer
Author :
Smith, Neil ; Zeltser, Alexander M. ; Yang, Danny L. ; Koeppe, Peter V.
Author_Institution :
San Diego Labs., Eastman Kodak Co., San Diego, CA, USA
fDate :
9/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A NiFe/Co/Cu GMR spin-valve magnetometer is designed, built, and tested. Thin-film flux-concentrators provide 50× gain, yielding hysteresis-free sensitivity 1/R dR/dH=11%/0e in a 1 mm2, internally temperature compensated device. Detection levels of 2 μOe/(Hz)1/2 (at 1 Hz) are limited by 1/f resistance noise in the GMR films, which is examined in detail. Improvement by 10× is possible via increased device size, as well as lower noise MR films
Keywords :
1/f noise; giant magnetoresistance; magnetometers; magnetoresistive devices; 1/f resistance noise; GMR spin-valve magnetometer; NiFe-Co-Cu; gain; sensitivity; temperature compensation; thin-film flux-concentrator; Anisotropic magnetoresistance; Giant magnetoresistance; Hysteresis; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetic films; Magnetic flux; Magnetic sensors; Magnetometers; Magnetostatics; Noise level; Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; Saturation magnetization; Temperature sensors; Testing; Thin film devices;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
