| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M23922/01 |
| Title: |
ADVANCED INFORMATION STORAGE FILMS WITH MAGNETORESISTIVE PROPERTIES |
| Principal Investigator: |
Petford-Long, Professor A |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Materials |
| Organisation: |
University of Oxford |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
04 January 1999 |
Ends: |
03 January 2002 |
Value (£): |
141,020
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The effect of local variations in microstructure and microchemistry on the response of lithographically-defined Magnetoresistive layered film elements to applied fields will be investigated. In addition to inhomogeneities such as local changes in layer thickness, interface nature or crystal structure, the effects of edges (magnetostatic effects and compositional changes due to corrosion) play an important role in determining the behaviour of the elements, but have not so far been investigated in detail. The sub-micron scale of the variations make them very relevant to devices such as GMR read/heads because they lead to non-uniform head response and this to head noise. We intend to concentrate on NiFe/almina/TM (TM=Co or Fe) spin tunnel junctions and on NiFe/Cu/Cu spin-valves. The microstructure and composition profile of the films will be determined using high spatial resolution techniques and correlated with studies of local variations in magnetisation reversal and magnetotransport using Lorentz microscopy, including in-situ measurements with applied currents and fields. Hysteresis loop measurements will be made on the devices to ensure that the local measurements are typical of the films, and the high frequency response of the films will be assessed using high speed scanning Kerr microscopy.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ox.ac.uk |