PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

It has been demonstrated that hysteresis-free multilayers based on {Cu/Co} and {Cu/Ni57Co43} can be experimentally realized obtaining room temperature GMR effect amplitudes from 6.5% up to 20%. A critical window for the layer thickness for hysteresis-free GMR curves can be achieved for both systems, ranging from 0.38 to 0.45 nm and 0.59 to 0.7 nm, respectively. The corresponding sensitivities range from 0.075 up to 0.114%/Oe, but are still below that of normal {Cu/Co} multilayers. Hysteresis-free multilayers based on these systems are stable up to 180 degreesC upon isochronal annealing. It is shown that hysteresis-free. {Cu/Co or Ni57Co43}-multilayers are neither a solution to achieve good temperature stability nor a higher sensitivity compared with normal ones and hence are not candidates for application. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.