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Effects of Layer Deposition Sequence on Microstructure and Magnetostatic Coupling of Spin-Valves with Amorphous CoNbZr Layer |
| WEN Qi-Ye1;ZHANG Huai-Wu1;JIANG Xiang-Dong1;TANG Xiao-Li1; ZHONG Zhi-Yong1; John Q. Xiao2 |
| 1School of Microelectronic and Solid-state Electronic, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054
2Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA |
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| Cite this article: |
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WEN Qi-Ye, ZHANG Huai-Wu, JIANG Xiang-Dong et al 2005 Chin. Phys. Lett. 22 690-693 |
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Abstract We investigate spin-valve sandwiches with thin amorphous CoNbZr as soft layers. The magnetoresistance (MR), microstructure, and magnetostatic coupling are studied in these sandwiches with different layer deposition sequences. For the CoNbZr/Cu/Co sandwich, the CoNbZr underlayer provides a smoother surface on which smooth Cu and Co layers can subsequently grow. The Cu spacer is dense and pinholes-free, leading to a good ``spin valve'' effect with a larger MR ratio of 3.8%. For the Co/Cu/CoNbZr sandwich, however, the Cu spacer is rough and pinholes were observed, which could induce a direct ferromagnetic coupling. Correlated rougher surfaces on both the sides of the Cu spacer were also observed, giving rise to an ``orangepeel'' coupling of
about 0.105erg/cm-2. This strong ferromagnetic coupling in Co/Cu/CoNbZr results in a lower MR ratio of 1.6%. Moreover, upon proper thermal annealing, the CoNbZr/Cu/Co has a larger MR enhancement and a superior thermal stability to 350°C due to the dense and homogenous structure in the spacer layer.
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| Keywords:
75.70.Cn
75.47.De
75.70.Kj
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Published: 01 March 2005
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| PACS: |
75.70.Cn
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(Magnetic properties of interfaces (multilayers, superlattices, heterostructures))
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75.47.De
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(Giant magnetoresistance)
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75.70.Kj
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