DOI: 10.1209/epl/i2003-00606-0
Europhys. Lett., 63 (6) , pp. 874-880 (2003)

Inverse giant magnetoresistance due to spin-dependent interface scattering in

M. Buchmeier, R. Schreiber, D. E. Bürgler and P. Grünberg

Institut für Festkörperforschung, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH D-52425 Jülich, Germany

d.buergler@fz-juelich.de

(Received 9 December 2002; accepted in final form 10 July 2003)

Abstract
We have found an inverse current-in-plane giant magnetoresistance (CIP-GMR) effect in epitaxial samples grown by molecular-beam epitaxy. The and magnetic layers are decoupled, and antiparallel alignment is achieved by the different coercivities of the and layers. The inverse GMR ratio is approximately one order of magnitude smaller than i) the normal GMR ratio of or comparable epitaxial samples, and ii) the simultaneously observed anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR). The comparison with and systems, which both show a normal GMR effect, demonstrates that the inversion of the GMR effect is solely induced by modifying the non-magnetic spacer layer. Therefore, these experiments give strong evidence that interface scattering significantly contributes to the CIP-GMR. This conclusion is further supported by an analysis in terms of interface scattering spin asymmetries.

PACS
73.40.-c - Electronic transport in interface structures.
75.47.De - Giant magnetoresistance.
75.70.Cn - Magnetic properties of interfaces (multilayers, superlattices, heterostructures).

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