PHOTOTHERMAL APPROACH TO MAGNETORESISTANCE MONITORING IN MAGNETIC MULTILAYERS

Photothermal methods were used to monitor thermal effects related to m agnetoresistance of epitaxial magnetic metallic multilayers, in a dire ction perpendicular to the layers, as a function of the applied magnet ic field. Photothermal signal changes induced by thermal conductivity variations were modeled in order to determine the suitable experimenta l conditions according to the technique used. Both photothermal micros copy and mirage detection were successfully applied to such measuremen ts. For the sample studied here, a magneto induced perpendicular condu ctivity variation of similar to 66% was determined. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.