Heusler-alloy-based magnetoresistive sensor with synthetic antiferromagnet

Abstract

Abstract Heusler alloy has been widely utilized in magnetoresistive sensors to enhance the device performance. In this work, we theoretically investigate the performance of Heusler-alloy-based magnetoresistive sensors with a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) layer. The atomistic model combined with the spin accumulation model will be used in this work. The former is used to construct the reader stack and investigate the magnetization dynamics in the system. The latter is employed to describe the spin transport behavior at any position of the structure. We first perform simulations of the exchange bias (EB) phenomenon in the IrMn/ C o 2 F e S i (CFS) system providing a high EB field. Then, a realistic reader stack of IrMn/CFS/Ru/CFS/Ag/CFS is constructed via an atomistic model. Subsequently, the resistance–area product (RA) and magnetoresistance (MR) ratio of the reader can be calculated by using the spin accumulation model. As a result of the spin transport behavior in the Heusler-alloy-based reader stack including SAF structure at 0 K, an enhancement of the MR ratio up to 120 % and RA < 40 m Ω ⋅ μ m 2 can be observed. This study demonstrates the important role of the Heusler alloy and SAF layer in the development of magnetoresistive sensors for the application of readers in hard disk drives with an areal density beyond 2 Tb in−2.