Giant Magnetoresistance in FeNiCo/Cu Multilayers

Abstract

The giant magnetoresistance effect of Fe 16 Ni 66 Co 18 /Cu multilayers prepared by the RF magnetron sputtering method is reported. A magnetoresistance ratio as large as 35% is obtained at 300 K, and it oscillates as a function of Cu layer thickness. The oscillation period is about 1 nm, which is similar to the case of Co/Cu multilayers. The maximum interlayer coupling strength for the first peak is about 0.05 erg/cm 2 . For the second peak the coupling is as weak as 0.003 erg/cm 2 with a magnetoresistance ratio of 13%.