Extraordinary Hall effect in giant magnetoresistive Fe/Cr multilayers: The role of interface scattering.

Abstract

We have investigated the Hall effect in giant-magnetoresistive Fe/Cr multilayers as a function of systematic changes in interfacial roughness. Two approaches have been used to modify the interfacial roughness: sputter deposition under different argon pressures, and isothermal annealing at fixed temperatures. We find that interfacial roughness enhances the magnetic (extraordinary) contribution to the Hall effect. Furthermore, the presence of roughness at the interfaces modifies the relationship between the Hall resistivity and the longitudinal resistivity. These results indicate that interface scattering cannot be neglected and should be included in theories of the extraordinary Hall effect in magnetic multilayers. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}