Perpendicular-current transport in exchange-biased spin-valves

Author

Pratt, W.P., Jr. ; Steenwyk, S.D. ; Hsu, S.Y. ; Chiang, W.-C. ; Schaefer, A.C. ; Loloee, R. ; Bass, J.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys. & Astron., Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI, USA

Volume

33

Issue

5

fYear

1997

fDate

9/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

3505

Lastpage

3510

Abstract

We have measured giant magnetoresistance (GMR) with current perpendicular to the layer planes (CPP-MR) in exchange-biased (EB) spin-valves-a controllable spin-switch. We will present CPP data on EB-spin valves of Permalloy (Py) and Cu, and explain how the data are analyzed. Interpreted with the theory of Valet and Fert, the data yield an unexpectedly short value for the length over which electrons lose spin-memory in Py, the spin-diffusion length, l_sf^Py=5.5±1 nm. We will show that the CPP parameters derived with the aid of single EB-spin-valves predict rather well the CPP-MRs of double EB spin-valves

Keywords

Permalloy; copper; exchange interactions (electron); ferromagnetic materials; giant magnetoresistance; magnetic multilayers; Ni₈₆Fe₁₄-Cu; Permalloy; controllable spin-switch; electron spin-diffusion length; exchange-biased spin-valves; giant magnetoresistance; perpendicular-current; Astronomy; Electrons; Geometry; Giant magnetoresistance; Magnetic materials; Magnetic multilayers; Magnetic sensors; Physics; Saturation magnetization; Spin polarized transport;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.619480

Filename

619480