Nucleation field in synthetic antiferromagnet stabilized with uniaxial or unidirectional anisotropy

The nucleation held (H-n) in a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) has been stu died. Analytical expressions for H-n were derived for a SAF, which was stab ilized with uniaxial or unidirectional anisotropy. The analysis showed that using SAF in spin valves (SV) could enhance their stability by an order of magnitude, compared to a regular SV with antiferromagnetic (AF) layers. Mi cromagnetic calculations were used to model the magnetization distribution and stability in real-life read-back heads using spin valves. Experimental studies showed that SAF increases substantially the thermal stability of sp in valves. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.