Effect of Pressure on the Spin-Dependence of Electrical Resistivity in Fe/Cr Magnetic Multilayers

Abstract

The electrical resistivities of Fe/Cr magnetic multilayers have been measured at a high pressure and magnetic field. The electrical resistivity shows a large decrease by applying a magnetic field, indicating giant magnetoresistance (GMR). GMR decreases but the saturation field increases with increasing pressure. The spin-dependence of electrical resistivities due to the scattering of conduction electrons with spins parallel (ρ + ) and antiparallel (ρ - ) to the Fe layer magnetization are extracted. The pressure dependence of ρ + is greater than that of ρ - . The origins of the pressure dependence of ρ + and ρ - are discussed on the basis of theoretical model, and the large pressure coefficients for ρ + and ρ - are suggested to be mainly due to a change in the random exchange potential at interfaces. A small minimum in the temperature-dependence of resistivity is induced by applying pressure. ρ + decreases but ρ - increases with increasing temperature up to 40 K. The anomalous temperature-dependence of res...