Giant Magnetoresistance in FeNiCo/Cu Multilayers

Abstract
The giant magnetoresistance effect of Fe16Ni66Co18/Cu multilayers prepared by the RF magnetron sputtering method is reported. A magnetoresistance ratio as large as 35% is obtained at 300 K, and it oscillates as a function of Cu layer thickness. The oscillation period is about 1 nm, which is similar to the case of Co/Cu multilayers. The maximum interlayer coupling strength for the first peak is about 0.05 erg/cm2. For the second peak the coupling is as weak as 0.003 erg/cm2 with a magnetoresistance ratio of 13%.