ISSN:
1089-7550
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Magnetic properties and magnetoresistance (MR) are examined for the Fe/Au multilayers (MLs) prepared on glass substrates by electron-beam evaporation techniques as a function of the thicknesses of Fe and Au layers; dFe and dAu. For small dFe, the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is induced, and in the films of dFe(approximate)5 Å, the stripe magnetic domain patterns are observed. In dFe≤3 Å, however, a superparamagnetic nature and a granular-type giant magnetoresistance (GMR) appear at room temperature. In a series of [Fe(3 Å)/Au(dAu)]40 MLs, the MR ratio increases with dAu and reaches the first peak at around 10 Å. On the other hand, at 14 K, the ferromagnetic component having a perpendicular anisotropy becomes dominant, and the GMR arises from the random wall alignment due to the antiferromagnetic coupling between the adjacent Fe layers, causing the first MR peak at dAu(approximate)10 Å. The layered structure is obscured and the superparamagnetic Fe grains are created by annealing at 300–350 °C, followed by the crystalline growth upon annealing at temperatures above 350 °C. These variations in the film morphology cause the changes in the saturation magnetization and the MR ratio. © 1997 American Institute of Physics.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.366171
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