X-ray Reflectivity and Polarized Neutron Reflectivity Investigations of [Co_ 60 Fe_ 60 B_ 20 /MgO]_n Multilayers

• Authors: M. Vadalà , M. Wolff , K. Westerholt , H. Zabel , P. Wisniowski , S. Cardoso
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

In recent years magnetic tunnel junctions have been intensively studied and incorporated in magnetic random access memory devices and magnetic sensors, where large tunnelling magnetoresistance ratios are preferred. The largest tunnelling magnetoresistance values until now have been observed in magnetic tunnel junctions with MgO barriers and CoFeB electrodes after annealing of the junction above the recrystallization temperature of the amorphous CoFeB layers. We used X-ray reflectivity and polarized neutron reflectivity to study [Co_ 60 Fe_ 60 B_ 20 /MgO]_ x14 multilayers with the MgO layers prepared by different methods and annealed at different temperatures in order to compare the interface quality and the structural changes induced upon annealing.

Keywords

EN

75.50.-i; 75.50.Kj; 75.50.Cc

Discipline

• 75.50.Cc: Other ferromagnetic metals and alloys
• 75.50.Kj: Amorphous and quasicrystalline magnetic materials

• Publisher: Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Acta Physica Polonica A
• Year: 2007
• Volume: 112
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1249-1257

Dates

published

2007-12

received

2007-07-04

Contributors

author

M. Vadalà

• Experimentalphysik/FestkÖrperphysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany

author

M. Wolff

• Experimentalphysik/FestkÖrperphysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany

author

K. Westerholt

• Experimentalphysik/FestkÖrperphysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany

author

H. Zabel

• Experimentalphysik/FestkÖrperphysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany

author

P. Wisniowski

• INESC-Microsystems and Nanotechnologies, Rua Alves Redol 9, 1000- 029 Lisboa, Portugal

author

S. Cardoso

• INESC-Microsystems and Nanotechnologies, Rua Alves Redol 9, 1000- 029 Lisboa, Portugal

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Identifiers

DOI

10.12693/APhysPolA.112.1249