Co2MnGe-based current-perpendicular-to-the-plane giant-magnetoresistance spin-valve sensors for recording head applications

被引:79
作者
Carey, M. J. [1 ]
Maat, S. [1 ]
Chandrashekariaih, S. [1 ]
Katine, J. A. [1 ]
Chen, W. [1 ]
York, B. [1 ]
Childress, J. R. [1 ]
机构
[1] Hitachi San Jose Res Ctr, San Jose, CA 95135 USA
关键词
1ST-PRINCIPLES; PERMALLOY; ALLOYS;
D O I
10.1063/1.3563578
中图分类号
O59 [应用物理学];
学科分类号
摘要
Magnetic and magnetotransport properties of current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) giant-magnetoresistance (GMR) spin-valve sensors containing the Heusler alloy Co2MnGe are presented. The geometrical and head integration constraints which exist for recording head applications are discussed and dictate various design compromises which determine the final device properties. Here we show that even for small total sensor thicknesses 400 angstrom and anneal temperatures < 250 degrees C we can obtain CPP-GMR signal levels up to Delta RA = 4 m Omega-mu m(2) at room temperature when inserting Co2MnGe in both the free layer and reference layers of the spin valve. Output levels increase to 10 m Omega-mu m(2) when reducing the temperature below 100 K, demonstrating the strong temperature dependence of the spin-dependent scattering in the Co2MnGe-based magnetic layers. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3563578]
引用
收藏
页数:11
相关论文
共 26 条
[1]   LINEAR METHODS IN BAND THEORY [J].
ANDERSEN, OK .
PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 1975, 12 (08) :3060-3083
[2]   EXPLICIT, 1ST-PRINCIPLES TIGHT-BINDING THEORY [J].
ANDERSEN, OK ;
JEPSEN, O .
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, 1984, 53 (27) :2571-2574
[3]   Current-perpendicular-to-plane spin transport properties of CoFe alloys: Spin diffusion length and scattering asymmetry [J].
Ann, C. ;
Shin, K-H. ;
Loloee, R. ;
Bass, J. ;
Pratt, W. P., Jr. .
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS, 2010, 108 (02)
[4]   Spin-diffusion lengths in metals and alloys, and spin-flipping at metal/metal interfaces: an experimentalist's critical review [J].
Bass, Jack ;
Pratt, William P., Jr. .
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER, 2007, 19 (18)
[5]   Band-structure calculations of the half-metallic ferromagnetism and structural stability of full- and half-Heusler phases [J].
Block, T ;
Carey, MJ ;
Gurney, BA ;
Jepsen, O .
PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 2004, 70 (20) :205114-1
[6]   Band-structure calculations of imperfect Co2MnGe Heusler compounds [J].
Carey, MJ ;
Block, T ;
Gurney, BA .
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 2004, 85 (19) :4442-4444
[7]   Giant magnetoresistance in PtMn alloys [J].
Carey, MJ ;
Banful, AB ;
Folks, L ;
Gurney, BA ;
Farrow, RFC ;
Kellock, AJ .
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 2004, 84 (16) :3097-3099
[8]   All-metal current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance sensors for narrow-track magnetic recording [J].
Childress, J. R. ;
Carey, M. J. ;
Maat, S. ;
Smith, N. ;
Fontana, R. E. ;
Druist, D. ;
Carey, K. ;
Katine, J. A. ;
Robertson, N. ;
Boone, T. D. ;
Alex, M. ;
Moore, J. ;
Tsang, C. H. .
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS, 2008, 44 (01) :90-94
[9]   Fabrication and recording study of all-metal dual-spin-valve CPP read heads [J].
Childress, J. R. ;
Carey, M. J. ;
Cyrille, M. -C. ;
Carey, K. ;
Smith, Neil ;
Katine, J. A. ;
Boone, T. D. ;
Driskill-Smith, A. A. G. ;
Maat, S. ;
Mackay, K. ;
Tsang, Ching H. .
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS, 2006, 42 (10) :2444-2446
[10]   NEW CLASS OF MATERIALS - HALF-METALLIC FERROMAGNETS [J].
DEGROOT, RA ;
MUELLER, FM ;
VANENGEN, PG ;
BUSCHOW, KHJ .
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, 1983, 50 (25) :2024-2027