Abstract
The dual spin-valve (DSV) has an MR ratio 1.5 to 2 times more than that of a conventional spin-valve. We investigated the MR properties of a DSV with PdPtMn antiferromagnetic layers, which showed high corrosion resistance and high thermal stability. The magnetization of the free layer is rotated from the easy axis by the magneto-static fields of the two pinned layers. We examined the dependence of the bias field (Hb) on the DSV structure, reducing the pinned layer thickness to decrease the magneto-static field, reducing the Cu spacer thickness to increase the interlayer coupling, and varying the magnetic field generated from the sense current. We succeeded in decreasing the bias field to half that of a symmetric DSV by introducing a thin pinned layer, a thin Cu spacer and an asymmetric DSV.