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

Georgieva, MT; Telling, ND; Jones, GA; Grundy, PJ; Hase, TPA; Tanner, BK

Abstract

The effect of N-doping on the microstructure and coercivity of the ‘free’ Fe
layer in Fe/insulator/Fe trilayers has been examined. Itwas found thatN-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 N´eel 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., Telling, N., Jones, G., Grundy, P., Hase, T., & Tanner, B. (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
• Publication Date: Feb 5, 2003
• Deposit Date: Sep 5, 2007
• 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
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/15/4/302