Spin-valve magnetization reversal obtained by N-doping in Fe/insulator/Fe trilayers

Georgieva, M T; Telling, N D; Jones, G A; Grundy, P J; Hase, T P A; Tanner, B K

Abstract

The effect of N-doping on the microstructure and coercivity of the 'free' Fe layer in Fe/insulator/Fe trilayers has been examined. It was found that N-doping leads to a magnetic softening of the Fe layer and a corresponding reduction in the grain size. Hard/soft spin-valve trilayers, showing good independent layer reversal, were obtained using N-doped and undoped Fe layers. Ferromagnetic interlayer coupling was found in these trilayers that could be well described by a Néel coupling mechanism. Nonuniform reversal of the harder Fe layer, once incorporated in the trilayer, was also observed and could be reproduced using a simple model in which local variations in the interlayer coupling energy are considered. Such variations are likely to be caused by structural inhomogeneity in the films. N-doping is potentially important as a method for tailoring the coercivity of the 'free' layer in spin-valves comprising high-polarization magnetic materials.

Citation

Georgieva, M. T., Telling, N. D., Jones, G. A., Grundy, P. J., Hase, T. P. A., & Tanner, B. K. (2003). Spin-valve magnetization reversal obtained by N-doping in Fe/insulator/Fe trilayers. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 15(4), 617-624. https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/15/4/302

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jan 20, 2003
• Publication Date: Feb 5, 2003
• Deposit Date: May 17, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
• Print ISSN: 0953-8984
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 617-624
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/15/4/302
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/828961
• Publisher URL: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0953-8984/15/4/302/meta