Magnetoresistance of Half-Metallic Oxide Nanocontacts

Abstract

Magnetoresistive effects $(R(0)\ensuremath{-}R(H))/R(H)$ exceeding $500%$ are found at room temperature in a field of 7 mT in nanocontacts between ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ crystallites. The shape of the $I(V)$ curve depends on field and the magnitude of the magnetoresistance is correlated with the resistance, the largest effects occurring when $R>100\mathrm{k}\ensuremath{\Omega}$. The explanation proposed involves hopping transport of spin-polarized electrons through a narrow domain wall pinned at the nanocontact; spin pressure on the domain wall pushes it out into the electrode, leading to the nonlinearity of the $I(V)$ characteristic. Application of current-induced wall motion in a simple fast-switching magnetic memory element is proposed.