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Magnetic structure determination for Fe3O4/NiO superlattices by neutron diffraction techniques (abstract)
Neutron diffraction measurements reveal the nature of the magnetic structure in Fe3O4/NiO superlattices grown by molecular beam epitaxy. By taking advantage of differences between the spinel and rocks...
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How to isolate effects of spin-flip scattering on giant magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers (invited)
A technique is described for isolating effects of finite spin diffusion lengths on the magnetoresistance (MR) of magnetic multilayers at low temperatures by measuring the MR with the current perpendic...

Perpendicular magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers: Theoretical model and discussion (invited)

J. Appl. Phys. 75, 6693 (1994); doi:10.1063/1.356868

Issue Date: 15 May 1994

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Albert Fert
Laboratoire de Physique des Solides,a) Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France

Thierry Valet
Laboratoire Central de Recherches Thomson-CSF, 91404 Orsay, France

Jozef Barnas
Institute of Physics, A.M. University, 60-769 Poznan, Poland
After a general introduction describing the mechanisms of the current perpendicular to the layer plane magnetoresistance (CPP-MR), a microscopic model based on the Boltzmann equation is presented and a general expression of the magnetoresistance is derived in which the spin diffusion length appears as the unique scaling length of the problem. In the limit where the spin diffusion lengths are much larger than the layer thicknesses, the expression of the CPP-MR becomes very simple and similar to that already used at Michigan State University for the analysis of experimental results. Out of this limit, the model predicts a dramatic reduction of the CPP-MR if the spin diffusion lengths are shortened sufficiently by paramagnetic impurities or spin-orbit scatterers. Finally, a calculation is presented of the spin-dependent interface resistances involved in the model and related to interface potential steps, and experimental data are compared. Journal of Applied Physics is copyrighted by The American Institute of Physics.
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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords
PACS
  • 72.15.Gd
    Electronic transport in condensed matter Electronic conduction in metals and alloys Galvanomagnetic and other magnetotransport effects
  • 75.50.Rr
    Magnetic properties and materials Studies of specific magnetic materials Magnetism in interface structures (including layer and superlattice structures)
  • 73.40.Jn
    Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, and thin films Electronic transport in interface structures Metal-to-metal contacts
  • YEAR: 1994

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:
0021-8979 (print)   1089-7550 (online)
Publisher:
AIP is a member of CrossRef AIP

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