Tgsm. Rijks et al., SWITCHING FIELD INTERVAL OF THE SENSITIVE MAGNETIC LAYER IN EXCHANGE-BIASED SPIN VALVES, Journal of applied physics, 82(7), 1997, pp. 3442-3451
The switching field interval, Delta H-s, of Ni-Fe-Co-based thin films
and spin-valve layered structures, sputter-deposited on a Ta-buffer la
yer, was studied. The switching field interval is the field range in w
hich the magnetization reversal of a ferromagnetic layer takes place.
In thin films, Delta H-s is determined by the uniaxial anisotropy, ind
uced by growth in a magnetic field. This anisotropy increases with the
ferromagnetic layer thickness and saturates at a thickness of 10-25 n
m. It also depends on the alloy composition as well as on the choice o
f the adjacent layers, In exchange-biased spin valves, an additional c
ontribution to Delta H-s, was observed, which increases monotonically
with increasing interlayer coupling. We explain this in terms of the e
ffect on the magnetization reversal of the sensitive layer due to a si
multaneous small, but temporary, magnetization rotation in the exchang
e-biased layer and lateral variations of the interlayer coupling. In a
ddition, the effect of biquadratic coupling on Delta H-s is discussed.
Finally, the thermal stability of Delta H-s is investigated. (C) 1997
American Institute of Physics.