ISSN:
1662-9779
Source:
Scientific.Net: Materials Science & Technology / Trans Tech Publications Archiv 1984-2008
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
We analyze the effect of the geometrical shape and size of the cross section on thespin-polarized transport and the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) by a finite element method, andevaluate the stability and the physical properties of nano-scale spin valves. We calculate thetransmission coefficients in the ballistic regime by using a transfer-matrix method, and evaluate theGMR of the current perpendicular to the plane (CPP) by using a circuit theory. The conduction-bandstructure is simplified to the potential step, which is determined by combining the interfacialparameters calculated by first-principles with the free electron model. The geometrical shapes of thecross section are line and square. As a result, the cross sectional shape has a significant effect on thespin-polarized transport and the GMR. The square-shaped cross section has an advantage of the largeGMR, which is contrary to the line-shaped cross section. These phenomena result from the differenceof the cut-off energies with the transverse modes and, consequently, the different spin-downtransmission coefficients
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://www.tib-hannover.de/fulltexts/2011/0528/02/23/transtech_doi~10.4028%252Fwww.scientific.net%252FSSP.124-126.843.pdf
