Magnetic and transport properties of epitaxial Fe/MgO(001) wires

The magnetic domain wall contribution to the magnetoresistance was examined by the magnetoresistance measurements and magnetic force microscope observ ations for (0 0 1) oriented epitaxial Fe wires 2 mu m wide with different t hicknesses of 50 and 100 nm. The periodical domain structures with a period of 1 mu m were observed in both the wires at room temperature. The evaluat ed domain wall contribution to the magnetoresistance is positive at room te mperature and turns to be negative below 66 K, indicating that the domain w alls enhance the conductivity of the wire at low temperatures. (C) 1999 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.