極薄Ruキャップ層を用いたスピンバルブ素子のCPP-GMR特性

抄録

We have studied the current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) of single spin-valve (SV) films with two different free layers : one is a single ferromagnet layer (conventional), and the other is a ferromagnetic layer with a ruthenium cap layer (Ru cap). When the spacer Cu layer thickness is 2.5 nm and the Ru layer is 0.45 nm, the Ru cap-type greatly enhances the CPP-GMR, with increasing its value up to 4.3%. We argue that the MR enhancement is probably caused by the spin-dependent scattering due to the strong reflection of majority spins at the Co₉₀Fe₁₀/Ru interface.