Giant magnetoresistance in antiferromagnetic Co/Cu multilayers

Abstract

We report giant values of saturation magnetoresistance in sputtered antiferromagnetic Co/Cu multilayers containing thin Co and Cu layers 8–10 Å thick. We discuss the key importance of the buffer layer in controlling the growth of flat Co and Cu layers. As shown by cross‐section transmission electron microscopy high‐quality structures are found for growth on Fe buffer layers. Such structures display saturation magnetoresistance at 300 K of more than 65% with saturation fields of ≂10 kOe. These values are several times larger than previously found for any magnetic material at room temperature.