MAGNETORESISTANCE OF BLOCH-WALL-TYPE MAGNETIC-STRUCTURES INDUCED IN NIFE COSM EXCHANGE-SPRING BILAYERS/

The magnetoresistance originating from magnetic structures with gradua lly rotating magnetic moments, like a Bloch wall, was investigated usi ng soft-magnetic (NiFe)/hard-magnetic (CoSm) bilayers, whose magnetic structures were well characterized. The magnetoresistance was measured with an electric current in the film plane; the magnetoresistance in this geometry corresponds to that due to a current parallel to a Bloch wall. The main feature of the magnetoresistance curves was ruled by t he anisotropic magnetoresistance. It was found that a giant magnetores istance-type effect coexisted; the effect was very small in comparison with the anisotropic magnetoresistance effect.