Patent ID: 6011674
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A multilayer film, comprising:plural magnetic layers;a nonmagnetic layer in contact with and magnetically separating each adjacent pair of said plural magnetic layers; andan antiferromagnetic layer contacting one of the plural magnetic layers so that an exchange bias magnetic field is applied from the antiferromagnetic layer to the magnetic layer contacting the antiferromagnetic layer, an angle with respect to a magnetization direction of each of the plural magnetic layers being varied by a magnetic field applied from outside, and an electrical resistivity being varied due to the angles of the respective magnetization directions, wherein the electrical resistivity is lowest when the magnetization directions are parallel to each other, and wherein the electrical resistivity is highest when the magnetization directions are antiparallel to each other;wherein the magnetic layer contacting the antiferromagnetic layer includes at least two sublayers which consist of different respective ferromagnetic compositions; andwherein one of the sublayers has a face-centered cubic structure and directly contacts the antiferromagnetic layer, whereby a .gamma.-phase structure in the antiferromagnetic layer is more easily attained.