HARD-SOFT GMR SENSORS WITH CO-RH BASED ARTIFICIAL ANTIFERROMAGNETIC SUBSYSTEM

The superiority of Rh as antiferromagnetic (AF) coupler in the magneti c rigid Co/Rh/Co subsystem (AAF) of GMR sensors compared to Cu is expe rimentally demonstrated.It originates in the more than ten times highe r coupling strength (J(max)=-5 mJ/m(2)) of sputtered Co/Rh/Co sandwich es. On Rh/Cu buffers, the relative Rh-thickness window with complete A F coupling is three times larger than of Cu, thus relieving the deposi tion tolerances. The stability window of the rotating field in angle d etectors in creases by a factor of two for the Rh-AAF's. The angular r esolution of 0.2 degrees of Rh-sensors is a factor of four better than for their Cu pendants.