Exchange coupling and stability of PtMn-based spin valves

Abstract

The exchange coupling and stability of spin valves with antiferromagnetic (AF) PtMn films were investigated through the correlation between the magnetic properties and their microstructures. The exchange coupling field (H/sub ex/) decreases during iterative MR measurements and this decrease associates closely with the changes in the rotational hysteresis loss (W/sub r/), exchange anisotropy energy (K/sub e/) and blocking temperature (T/sub b/) distribution. The ordering of PtMn films, featuring an antiphase configuration, is found to play a significant role in determining the exchange coupling properties and stability of these spin valves.