• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.149-154
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• 2010

Synthetic antiferromagnets (SAFs) are used as free layer structures for various magnetic devices utilizing spintransfer torque (STT). Therefore, it is important to understand current-induced excitation of SAFs. By means of drift-diffusion and macrospin models, we studied the current-induced excitation of a SAF-free layer structure (NiFe/Ru/NiFe). The simulation results were compared with the previous experimental results [N. Smith et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 247205 (2008)]. We confirmed that a nonzero STT through the Ru layer is essential for explaining the experimental results.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.55-58
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• 2002

MR transfer behaviors of the permanent magnet biased spin valve MR sensors with SyAF (synthetic antiferromagnet) layers were studied by micromagnetics modeling. For narrow track MR heads, various height to width ratios were considered together with strength of permanent magnets which stabilities the free layed As the MR sensor width is reduced to $0.12 \mu{m}$, sensor height less than 0.09 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ is needed to show good linearity and the Mr.t of permanent magnets smaller than 0.2 memu/$cm^2$ is sufficient for the domain stabilization. The conditions for single domain behavior of the free layer were also investigated through optimizing the biasing strength of permanent magneto the shield gap and the aspect ratio of MR sensor.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2009

Solving the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation numerically, we investigate the attempt frequency of magnetization in synthetic antiferromagnet (SyAF). The attempt frequency is estimated while varying the uniaxial anisotropy constant, the energy barrier and the geometry of a magnetic layer. It is found that the attempt frequency is decreased for the same magnetic volume by increasing the asymmetry of the geometry in the high damping region. Also, even for a constant height of energy barrier, the attempt frequency can vary dramatically with uniaxial anisotropy constant.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.132-141
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• 2001

The switching characteristics and the magnetization-flop behavior in magnetic tunnel junctions exchange biased by synthetic antiferromagnets (SyAFs) are investigated by using a computer simulations based on a single-domain multilayer model. The bias field acting on the free layer is found to be sensitive to the thickness of neighboring layers, and the thickness dependence of the bias field is greater at smaller cell dimensions due to larger magnetostatic interactions. The resistance to magnetization flop increases with decreasing cell size due to increased shape anisotropy. When the cell dimensions are small and the synthetic antiferromagnet is weakly, or not pinned, the magnetization directions of the two layers sandwiching the insulating layer are aligned antiparallel due to a strong magnetostatic interaction, resulting in an abnormal magneto resistance (MR) change from the high-MR state to zero, irrespective of the direction of the free-layer switching. The threshold field for magnetization-flop is found to increase linearly with increasing antiferromagnetic exchange coupling in the synthetic antiferromagnet. Irrespective of the magnetic parameters and cell sizes, magnetization flop does not exist near zero applied field, indicating that magnetization flop is driven by the Zeeman energy.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.196-202
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• 2000

Top synthetic spin valves with structure Ta/NiFe/CoFe/Cu/CoFe(P1)/Ru/CoFe(P2)/FeMn/Ta on Si(100) substrate with natural oxide were prepared by dc magnetron sputtering system, and investigated on the magnetoresistance properties and effective exchange bias field. As the thickness of FeMn increased above 150 $\AA$, MR ratio was decreased due to the current shunting effect. As the thickness of free layer decreased below 40$\AA$, MR ratio was reduced rapidly. In case of 40 $\AA$ thick of free layer, spin valve film with a structure Si(100)/Ta(50 $\AA$)/NiFe(27 $\AA$)/CoFe(13 $\AA$)/Cu(26 $\AA$)/CoFe(30 $\AA$)/Ru(7 $\AA$)/CoFe(15 $\AA$)/FeMn(100 $\AA$)/Ta(50 $\AA$) exhibited maximum MR ratio of 7.5 % and an effective exchange bias field of 600 Oe, respectively. Thickness difference dependence in this synthetic spin valve structure on effective exchange field was investigated and interpreted by the analytical method. It should be noted that thickness increase of CoFe(P 1) and decrease of CoFe(P2) in synthetic antiferromagnet leaded to the decrease in effective exchange bias field by experimentally and analytically.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.203-209
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• 2000

Top synthetic spin valves with structure Ta/NiFe/CoFe/Cu/CoFe(P 1)/Ru/CoFe(P2)/FeMn/Ta on Si (100) substrate with natural oxide were prepared by dc magnetron sputtering system. We have changed only the thickness in free layers and the thickness difference (Pl-P2) in two ferromagnetic layers separated by Ru, and investigated the effect of magnetic film thickness on interlayer coupling field in spin valve with synthetic antiferromagnet. According to the decrease of free layer thickness, interlayer coupling field was increased due to the magnetostatic coupling(orange peel coupling). In case of t$\_$P1/>t$\^$P2/, interlayer coupling field agreed well with the modified Neel model suggested in conventional spin valve structures by Kools et al. However, in case of t$\_$P1/>t$\^$P2/, it was found that the interlayer coupling field was not explained by the Modified Neel Model and was confirmed the necessity of further remodeling. The dependence of Cu thickness on the interlayer coupling field was investigated and 10 Oe of interlayer coupling field was obtained when the Cu thickness is 32 $\AA$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2002.12a
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• pp.64-65
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• 2002

Recently the synthetic antiferromagnetic layer (SAF) has received much attention because it replaces the pinned layer of the conventional spin valve (CSV) sensors and its overall performance [1], The spin valve (SV) with SAF has the from buffer/F/Cu/APl/Ru/AP2/AF, where F is the soft ferromagnetic layer (typically NiFe with CoFe interfacial doping), AP1 and AP2 are two ferromagnetic layers (typically CoFe alloys) antiferromagnetically coupled through a thin Ru layer. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.128.2-128.2
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• 2007

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.211-216
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• 2001

Top synthetic spin valves wi th structure Ta/NiFe/CoFe/Cu/CoFe(Pl)/Ru/CoFe(P2)/FeMn/Ta on Si (100) substrate with SiO$_2$ of 1500 were prepared by dc magnetron sputtering system. We have changed only the thickness of the free layer and the thickness difference (Pl-P2) in the two ferromagnetic layers separated by Ru, and investigated the effect of magnetic film thickness on the GMR properties and the interlayer coupling field in a spin valve with a synthetic antiferromagnet. As thickness difference of pinned layer was decreased from +25 to -25 , MR ratio was decreased gradually. However, there was a dip zone indicating a big change of MR ratio around Pl = P2, which can be due to the large canting of pinned layers. The modified Neel model was suggested for the top synthetic spin valve to explain the interlayer coupling field according to the thickness change of ferromagnetic layers. The interlayer coupling field was decreased due to the magnetostatic coupling (orange peel coupling) as suggested by model. However, the interlayer coupling field was not explained at the dip zone by the modified Neel model. The deviation of modified Neel model at the dip zone could be due to the largely canting of the pinned layers as well, which depends on different thickness in synthetic antiferromagnetic structure.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.315-319
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• 2005

To obtain low switching field ($H_{SW}$) we introduced amorphous ferromagnetic $Co_{70.5}Fe_{4,5}Si_{15}B_{10}$ single and synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) free layers in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). The switching characteristics for MTJs with structures $Si/SiO_2/Ta$ 45/Ru 9.5/IrMn 10/CoFe 7/AlOx/CoFeSiB 7 or CoFeSiB (t)/Ru 1.0/CoFeSiB (7-t)/Ru 60 (in nm) were investigated and compared to MTJs with $Co_{75}Fe_{25}$ and $Ni_{80}Fe_{20}$ free layers. CoFeSiB showed a lower saturation magnetization of $560 emu/cm^3$ and a higher anisotropy constant of $2800\;erg/cm^3$ than CoFe and NiFe, respectively. An exchange coupling energy ($J_{ex}$) of $-0.003erg/cm^2$ was observed by inserting a 1.0 nm Ru layer in between CoFeSiB layers. In the CoFeSiB single and SAF free layer MTJs, it was frond that the size dependence of the $H_{SW}$ originated from the lower $J_{ex}$ experimentally and by micromagnetic simulation based on the Landau-Lisfschitz-Gilbert equation. The CoFeSiB SAF structures showed lower $H_{SW}$ than that of NiFe, CoFe and CoFeSiB single structures. The CoFeSiB SAF structures were proved to be beneficial far the switching characteristics such as reducing the coercivity and increasing the sensitivity in micrometer to submicrometer-sized elements.