Applied Physics Letters · 2003 · 168 citations · 13 references
Spin TorqueMagnetic PropertiesEngineeringTunnel MagnetoresistanceSpintronic MaterialMagnetic MaterialsMagnetoresistanceMagnetismTunneling MicroscopyQuantum MaterialsTunnel Magnetoresistance RatioHigh Tunnel MagnetoresistancePhysicsQuantum MagnetismSpintronicsFerromagnetismNatural SciencesApplied PhysicsCondensed Matter PhysicsSpin-polarized Tunneling
We report on spin-polarized tunneling in fully epitaxial Fe/MgO/Fe/Co tunnel junctions. By increasing the thickness of the insulating layer (tMgO), we have strongly enhanced the tunnel magnetoresistance. Values up to ∼100% at 80 K (∼67% at room temperature) have been observed with tMgO=2.5 nm. This tunnel magnetoresistance ratio, which is much larger than the one predicted by the Jullière’s model, can be understood in the framework of ab initio calculations.
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