TY  - JOUR
AU  - Paul, A.
AU  - Damm, T.
AU  - Bürgler, D. E.
AU  - Stein, S.
AU  - Kohlstedt, H.
AU  - Grünberg, P. A.
TI  - Optimizing the giant magnetoresistance of NiFe/Cu/Co pseudo spin-valves prepared by magnetron sputtering
JO  - Applied physics letters
VL  - 82
SN  - 0003-6951
CY  - Melville, NY
PB  - American Institute of Physics
M1  - PreJuSER-29229
SP  - 1905 - 1907
PY  - 2003
N1  - Record converted from VDB: 12.11.2012
AB  - We study the dependence of magnetic and magnetotransport properties of NiFe/Cu/Co pseudo spin-valves on the pressure of the Ar sputtering gas during magnetron deposition. The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) ratio as a function of the sputtering pressure behaves nonmonotonically with a maximum of about 4% at an intermediate pressure of 0.87x10(-2) mbar. Magneto-optic Kerr-effect measurements reveal different coercive fields and independent switching of the Co and NiFe layers. The structural characterization by x-ray scattering shows no significant pressure dependence. However, we observe by atomic force microscopy a variation of the grain structure with increasing sputtering pressure; the grain size first decreases and then the grains start clustering for highest pressures. The reduced coercive field and the lower GMR ratio indicate that the clustered grains have weaker magnetic pinning and increased spin-independent scattering. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.
KW  - J (WoSType)
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000181666500033
DO  - DOI:10.1063/1.1563056
UR  - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/29229
ER  -