Spin Transfer Switching and MR Properties of Co/Pt Multilayered Free Layers for Submicron Sized Magneto-Optical Light Modulation Device

Co/Pt multilayered films show strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and have a large magneto-optical Kerr effect in the short wavelength side. To use these films with submicron spatial light modulators driven by spin transfer switching (STS), we fabricated current perpendicular to plane giant mag...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on magnetics 2010-06, Vol.46 (6), p.2171-2174
Main Authors: Machida, Kenji, Furukawa, Keiji, Funabashi, Nobuhiko, Aoshima, Ken-Ichi, Kuga, Kiyoshi, Ishibashi, Takayuki, Shimidzu, Naoki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Current perpendicular to plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR)
Devices
Electrodes
Exact sciences and technology
Kerr effects
Magnetic anisotropy
Magnetic films
Magnetic modulators
Magnetic properties
Magnetic switching
Magnetism
Magnetization reversal
Magnetooptic devices
Magnetooptic effects
Materials science
Optical modulation
Other topics in materials science
Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy
Physics
Platinum
Silver
spin transfer torque
Switching
Tunnel magnetoresistance
tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR)
Tunneling magnetoresistance
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Summary:Co/Pt multilayered films show strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and have a large magneto-optical Kerr effect in the short wavelength side. To use these films with submicron spatial light modulators driven by spin transfer switching (STS), we fabricated current perpendicular to plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) and tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) devices with Co/Pt multilayers for free layers and investigated the MR properties, the STS characteristics, and the Kerr effects. A Kerr hysteresis loop was clearly observed in the CPP-GMR device, which was 125 × 180 nm 2 . Full magnetization reversal of the Co/Pt multilayered film by spin transfer torque was demonstrated for a CPP-GMR device with a Cu-based top electrode. On the other hand, there was hardly any resistance change in a CPP-GMR with a transparent top electrode due to the low MR ratio of the device. A TMR stack with a Ag buffer layer showed a strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. An MR curve was detected for a TMR device with a transparent top electrode.
ISSN:0018-9464
1941-0069
DOI:10.1109/TMAG.2010.2042931