Hysteretic giant magnetoresistance curves induced by interlayer magnetostatic coupling in [Pd/Co]/Cu/Co/Cu/[Co/Pd] dual spin valves

The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) characteristics of hybrid perpendicular/Cu/in-plane magnetic anisotropy [Pd/Co]/Cu/Co single spin valves and [Pd/Co]/Cu/Co/Cu/[Co/Pd] dual spin valves with applied field perpendicular and parallel to the film plane are studied. Linear and nonhysteretic GMR behaviors are observed for the two spin valves in perpendicular-to-plane applied fields due to the coherent rotation of the Co layer driven by the in-plane shape anisotropy. The GMR value of the dual spin valve is 1.8 times as large as that of the single spin valve. The correlations between the magnetic configuration of the devices and the resistance evolvement are analyzed. In-plane GMR curves with maximum applied field of 30 kOe deviate from the linear behavior and can be well described by the Stoner-Wohlfarth model including high order anisotropy terms. Moreover, obvious hysteresis behavior is observed in the in-plane GMR curve of the dual spin valve. This phenomenon results from the hindered rotation of the Co/Pd moments due to the magnetostatic coupling between the top and bottom Co/Pd multilayers in the dual spin valve. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3385314]