Giant Magnetoresistive Devices with Half-Metallic Heusler Compounds

Abstract

Fundamental mechanism of giant magnetoresistive (GMR) effect is described. Recent experimental studies on the current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) GMR effect using half-metallic Heusler compounds are also reviewed. Additional important topics such as the studies for spin-torque oscillator using Heusler-based CPP-GMR and AMR effect in half-metallic Heusler films are also introduced in this chapter.