Interface contribution to giant magnetoresistance in granular AgFe studiedwith Mossbauer spectroscopy

The magnetotransport properties of granular thin AgFe films, prepared by co deposition of the constituent metals in an ultrahigh vacuum have been inves tigated. Mossbauer spectroscopy was employed to investigate the role of sca ttering of conduction electrons at the interface between the magnetic Fe pa rticles and the Ag matrix. It is possible to determine the ratio of Fe atom s located at the Ag/Fe interface and in the particles (bulk atoms). The gia nt magnetoresistance effect correlates with the ratio of interface/bulk ato ms. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)04119-0].