Pseudo Spin Valves Using a (1 1 2)-Textured D0$_{22}$ Mn$_{2.3-2.4}$Ga Fixed Layer

Abstract

We demonstrate pseudo spin valves (PSVs) with a (112)-textured D0 <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">22</sub> Mn <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2.3-2.4</sub> Ga (MnGa) tilted magnetization fixed layer and an in-plane CoFe free layer. Single D0 <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">22</sub> MnGa films exhibit a small magnetoresistance (MR) typically observed in metals. In MnGa/Cu/CoFe PSVs, a transition from a negative (-0.08%) to positive (3.88%) MR is realized by introducing a thin spin polarizing CoFe insertion layer at the MnGa/Cu interface and tailoring the MnGa thickness. Finally, the exchange coupling between the MnGa and CoFe insertion layer is studied using a first-order reversal curve technique.