New epitaxial multilayer system for spin-valve magnetic sensors

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Abstract
Experimental results on a new ‘‘spin‐valve’’ system for magnetoresistive detection, based on epitaxial Fe/Pd bilayers grown on MgO single crystals, are presented. These Fe/Pd bilayers display particularly sensitive magnetic properties, which are shown to result directly from the presence of the polarized Pd interface. A magnetically hard trilayer is subsequently grown onto the soft Fe/Pd bilayer, forming an epitaxial spin‐valve system which displays abrupt transitions between states of parallel and antiparallel alignment of the two magnetic layers. The field sensitivity of the resistivity at low temperatures attains 0.3% per Oe in a Fe/Pd/Cu/Co/Cu system.