Issues

Search

Home > Issues > Volume 7 (2002) > No.2(pp.25-59)

Abnormal Temperature Dependence of Tunneling Magnetoresistance for Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

Journal of Magnetics, Volume 7, Number 2, 30 Jun 2002, Pages 59-62
K.I. Lee(Korea Institute of Science and Technology), J.H. Lee(Korea Institute of Science and Technology), W.Y. Lee(Korea Institute of Science and Technology), K. Rhie(Dept. of Physics, Korea University), B.C. Lee(Dept. of Physics, Inha university), K.H. Shin* (Korea Institute of Science and Technology)
Abstract
Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) were fabricated with high bias for plasma oxidation and the effects of annealing on the temperature dependence of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) were investigated experimentally. As-grown, TMR increases, peaks around 160 K, and decreases with increasing temperature from 80 K to 300 K. When MTJs are annealed, Tmax, the temperature at which maximum TMR is obtained, decreases as annealing temperature increases to the optimal point. In order to explain this abnormal temperature dependence of TMR, the difference of conductance between parallel and antiparallel alignments of magnetizations as a function of temperature is also analyzed. The shifts of Tmax due to annealing process are described phenomenologically with spin-dependent transfer rates of electrons tunnel through the barrier.
Keywords: Mangetic Tunnel Junction; Tunneling Magnetoresistance
DOI:
Full Text : PDF