• Please log in or register to access this feature.

Full Paper

Nanoscale Magnetic Characterization of Tunneling Magnetoresistance Spin Valve Head by Electron Holography

  1. Hyun Soon Park1,*,
  2. Kei Hirata2,
  3. Keiichi Yanagisawa3,
  4. Yoichi Ishida2,
  5. Tsuyoshi Matsuda4,
  6. Daisuke Shindo1,5,
  7. Akira Tonomura1,3,6

Article first published online: 9 AUG 2012

DOI: 10.1002/smll.201201365

Issue

Small

Small

Volume 8, Issue 23, pages 3640–3646, December 7, 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Park, H. S., Hirata, K., Yanagisawa, K., Ishida, Y., Matsuda, T., Shindo, D. and Tonomura, A. (2012), Nanoscale Magnetic Characterization of Tunneling Magnetoresistance Spin Valve Head by Electron Holography. Small, 8: 3640–3646. doi: 10.1002/smll.201201365

Author Information

  1. 1

    Advanced Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan

  2. 2

    Head Business Group, TDK Corporation, Saku, Nagano 385-8555, Japan

  3. 3

    Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan

  4. 4

    Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan

  5. 5

    Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan

  6. 6

    Central Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd., Hatoyama, Saitama 350-0395, Japan

*Advanced Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 DEC 2012
  2. Article first published online: 9 AUG 2012
  3. Manuscript Received: 19 JUN 2012

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (2554K)

Keywords:

  • nanoscale characterization;
  • hetero-interfaces;
  • TMR spin valve head;
  • magnetization distribution;
  • holography

Abstract

Nanostructured magnetic materials play an important role in increasing miniaturized devices. For the studies of their magnetic properties and behaviors, nanoscale imaging of magnetic field is indispensible. Here, using electron holography, the magnetization distribution of a TMR spin valve head of commercial design is investigated without and with a magnetic field applied. Characterized is the magnetic flux distribution in complex hetero-nanostructures by averaging the phase images and separating their component magnetic vectors and electric potentials. The magnetic flux densities of the NiFe (shield and 5 nm-free layers) and the CoPt (20 nm-bias layer) are estimated to be 1.0 T and 0.9 T, respectively. The changes in the magnetization distribution of the shield, bias, and free layers are visualized in situ for an applied field of 14 kOe. This study demonstrates the promise of electron holography for characterizing the magnetic properties of hetero-interfaces, nanostructures, and catalysts.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (2554K)