EFFECT OF MECHANICAL PROCESSING ON GIANT MAGNETORESISTANCE IN MELT-SPUN CO-CU RIBBONS

We have investigated the effect of uniaxial deformation on the giant m agnetoresistance (GMR) effect in melt-spun Co-Cu ribbons. Postprecipit ation deformation does not affect the Co particles, but the mechanical processing increases the structural disorder and the resistivity; thu s the GMR effect is degraded. Deforming the metastable alloy prior to precipitation of the Co particles possibly affects the particle nuclea tion process. As a result, the low-field sensitivity of the GMR effect increases slightly. [S0021-8979(97)09221-9].