TY - JOUR
T1 - Specular spin-valve films with an FeCo nano-oxide layer by ion-assisted oxidation
AU - Fukuzawa, Hideaki
AU - Koi, Katsuhiko
AU - Tomita, Hiroshi
AU - Fuke, Hiromi Niu
AU - Iwasaki, Hitoshi
AU - Sahashi, Masashi
PY - 2002/5/15
Y1 - 2002/5/15
N2 - We compared the specular spin-valve films with an Fe 50Co 50 nano-oxide layer (NOL) and a Co 90Fe 10 NOL in a pinned layer, prepared by natural oxidation (NO) and ion-assisted oxidation (IAO). For the IAO, an Ar-ion beam was used for the energy-assist effect during the oxidation, resulting in thermally stable NOL formation. With small oxygen exposures during the oxidation for the Fe 50Co 50 NOL by IAO, good ferromagnetic coupling through the NOL and high specularity at the NOL interface were concurrently obtained. Moreover, twisted coupling through the NOL was observed for the Fe 50Co 50 NOL by IAO for higher oxygen exposures. On the other hand, the NO did not cause large magnetoresistance (MR) enhancement for either the Co 90Fe 10 or Fe 50Co 50 NOLs, and the Co 90Fe 10 NOL by IAO caused weak magnetic coupling through the NOL, resulting in a small MR ratio. The Fe 50Co 50 NOL for small oxygen exposures is a good candidate for a final specular spin-valve film head for 100-Giga-bit per square inch recording.
AB - We compared the specular spin-valve films with an Fe 50Co 50 nano-oxide layer (NOL) and a Co 90Fe 10 NOL in a pinned layer, prepared by natural oxidation (NO) and ion-assisted oxidation (IAO). For the IAO, an Ar-ion beam was used for the energy-assist effect during the oxidation, resulting in thermally stable NOL formation. With small oxygen exposures during the oxidation for the Fe 50Co 50 NOL by IAO, good ferromagnetic coupling through the NOL and high specularity at the NOL interface were concurrently obtained. Moreover, twisted coupling through the NOL was observed for the Fe 50Co 50 NOL by IAO for higher oxygen exposures. On the other hand, the NO did not cause large magnetoresistance (MR) enhancement for either the Co 90Fe 10 or Fe 50Co 50 NOLs, and the Co 90Fe 10 NOL by IAO caused weak magnetic coupling through the NOL, resulting in a small MR ratio. The Fe 50Co 50 NOL for small oxygen exposures is a good candidate for a final specular spin-valve film head for 100-Giga-bit per square inch recording.
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U2 - 10.1063/1.1471364
DO - 10.1063/1.1471364
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0037094739
VL - 91
SP - 6684
EP - 6690
JO - Journal of Applied Physics
JF - Journal of Applied Physics
SN - 0021-8979
IS - 10 I
ER -