Magnetoresistive Detector for Bubble Domains

Abstract

This paper describes a simple Permalloy magnetoresistive readout transducer for detecting magnetic bubble domains. The advantages over inductive detection are a large increase in signal and an independence of bubble velocity. The advantages over Hall effect detection are simpler fabrication and higher efficiency. The detector is a strip of thin Permalloy film with two contacts, both of which can be deposited onto the same overlay used for bubble propagation. As an example, a 250 Å×38 μ× 138-μ device (52 Ω) was used with a measuring current of 7 mA to give a 2.3-mV signal when detecting 138-μ diameter bubbles in TmFeO3. The response was constant up to the maximum data rate allowed by the bubble domain, in this case, 106 bits/sec in DyFeO3. The detector itself can switch in less than 10−8 sec. It can be used when conducting strip lines are used for bubble propagation, and also when a rotating field and Permalloy overlay are used. Optimum device placement and shape, as well as ultimate limitations, are discussed in terms of the stray field contours of the bubbles.