Impurity Scattering from $\delta$-layers in Giant Magnetoresistance Systems

Abstract

The properties of the archetypal Co/Cu giant magnetoresistance (GMR) spin-valve structure have been modified by the insertion of very thin (sub-monolayer) $\delta$-layers of various elements at different points within the Co layers, and at the Co/Cu interface. Different effects are observed depending on the nature of the impurity, its position within the periodic table, and its location within the spin-valve. The GMR can be strongly enhanced or suppressed for various specific combinations of these parameters, giving insight into the microscopic mechanisms giving rise to the GMR.

5 pages, 2 figures

References in corpus (1)

• General Green's function formalism for transport calculations with spd-Hamiltonians and giant magnetoresistance in Co and Ni based magnetic multilayers

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• Impurity scattering and quantum confinement in giant magnetoresistance systems
• Long-ranged magnetic proximity effects in noble metal-doped cobalt probed with spin- dependent tunnelling