MAGNETORESISTANCE AND ELECTRICAL NOISE IN THE SILVER CHALCOGENIDE Ag2Te

Abstract

The relatively large and linear magnetoresistance found in nonstoichiometric silver chalcogenides makes them attractive candidates for studying the mechanisms of linear magnetoresistance and for field sensing applications. After a brief review of the magnetoresistive properties of these materials, we report on the intrinsic electrical noise in bulk, polycrystalline Ag 2+δ Te . Low-frequency noise is due to resistance fluctuations having a 1/f-like power spectrum. The temperature dependence of the noise magnitude and its spectral slope indicate thermally activated kinetics which we attribute to some form of charge trapping-detrapping process occurring in or near the intergranular regions. The effective magnetic field noise in Ag 2+δ Te is also compared to other materials systems used in field sensing applications.