Two-monolayer-periodicity oscillations in the magnetoresistance of Fe/Cr/Fe trilayers

The electrical transport and magneto-optical studies were performed on Fe/Cr/Fe trilayers grown on MgO(100) substrates without any buffer layer. The magnetoresistance measurement revealed the magnetoresistance oscillations with a period of two monolayers of Cr in the trilayers. Magneto-optic Kerr-ef...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review. B, Condensed matter Condensed matter, 1994-06, Vol.49 (22), p.16055-16057
Main Authors: Potter, CD, Schad, R, Beliën, P, Verbanck, G, Moshchalkov, VV, Bruynseraede, Y, Schäfer, M, Schäfer, R, Grünberg, P
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The electrical transport and magneto-optical studies were performed on Fe/Cr/Fe trilayers grown on MgO(100) substrates without any buffer layer. The magnetoresistance measurement revealed the magnetoresistance oscillations with a period of two monolayers of Cr in the trilayers. Magneto-optic Kerr-effect (MOKE) measurements were performed on the sample to verify the periodicity and determine the nature of the coupling between the Fe layers. This periodicity was found to arise from the antiferromagnetism of the Cr interlayer. The saturation fields obtained from both the transport and optical measurements agreed well at room temperature. These results indicate that the magnetoresistance was controlled by the coupling mechanism. MOKE measurements also indicate that the Fe layers could be aligned parallel, antiparallel, and perpendicular to each other. The size of the magnetoresistance effect in the trilayers was quite small.
ISSN:0163-1829
1095-3795
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevB.49.16055