Magnetic properties of specular spin-valves containing nano-oxide layers

Nano-Oxide Layers (NOL) have been introduced recently as a means to enhance the degree of specular scattering at the outer surfaces in a spin-valve, while still using metallic antiferromagnets such as PtMn or IrMn. A key requirement of the NOL layer in the pinned layer is to be able to provide strong ferromagnetic coupling between two ferromagnetic layers. In this paper, a quantitative study of the ferromagnetic interlayer coupling over the NOL-layer is presented. A Stoner-Wohlfarth model is developed to allow for quantitative analysis. The effect of different metal deposition methods (PVD or IBD), different pinning structures (PtMn and IrMn; simple and synthetic) and different oxidation methods on the coupling is compared.