CONTROLLED ANISOTROPIC GMR IN LASER-ABLATED CU-CO THIN-FILMS

Controlled microstructured Cu-Co thin films have been fabricated by pu lsed-laser ablation during which the target was rotated between 10 and 32 rpm. The samples exhibit giant magnetoresistance after the films a re annealed. The films obtained at low rotation velocities require a h igher magnetic field (approximate to 0.15 T) to achieve the maximum re sistance in the perpendicular MR as compared to 0.05 T for the paralle l MR. On the other hand, the films obtained at higher rotation velocit ies require quantitatively similar magnetic fields in both orientation s, about 0.05 T. This effect is discussed in terms of shape and crysta lline anisotropy of magnetic nanoparticles. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.