Perpendicular giant magnetoresistance of Co/Cu multilayers deposited under an angle on grooved substrates

Abstract

We propose a novel experimental technique for investigating the giant magnetoresistance effect measured with the current perpendicular to the layer plane (the so-called CPP geometry). Using holographic laser interference nanofabrication techniques and anisotropic etching the surface of semi-insulating InP substrates is patterned into V-shaped grooves of 0.2 μm width. Subsequently, a magnetic multilayer can be evaporated under an angle with the substrate normal, naturally resulting in a CPP-like magnetoresistance configuration. The technique is illustrated for Co/Cu multilayers, for which we present magnetization and magnetoresistance experiments.