PERPENDICULAR-CURRENT TRANSPORT IN EXCHANGE-BIASED SPIN-VALVES

We have measured Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) with Current Perpendicu lar to the layer Planes (CPP-MR) in Exchange-Biased (EB) spin-valves-a controllable spin-switch. We will present CPP data on EB-spin-valves of Permalloy (Py) and Cu, and explain how the data are analyzed. Inter preted with the theory of Valet and Fert, the data yield an unexpected ly short value for the length over which electrons lose spin-memory in Py, the spin-diffusion length, l(sf)(Py) = 5.5 +/- 1 nm. We will show that the CPP parameters derived with the aid of single EB-spin-valves predict rather well the CPP-MRs of double EB-spin-valves.