Thermal degradation of PtMn-pinned top spin valves

The microstructure and magnetic properties of PtMn-pinned top spin valves w ere studied at various annealing temperatures. Magnetic properties were obs erved to degrade with increasing temperature, with the exchange coupling H- 1 showing the fastest variation. The degradation did not appear to coincide with structural changes or large-scale diffusion, It will be shown that th e results are consistent with the grain boundary diffusion degradation mech anism.