Magnetoresistance and morphology in magnetic multilayers by insertion of very thin Fe, Co layers.

Dependences of magnetoresistance and morphology upon the insertion of very thin magnetic layers at interfaces between magnetic and nonmagnetic layers in Co/Cu and Ni/sub 81/Fe/sub 19//Cu multilayers have been investigated. The Co/Cu multilayers with inserted Fe thickness of 0.5/spl sim/1.0 /spl Aring/ have the MR ratio of about 18% more than the noninserted multilayers, and the MR ratio in the NiFe/Cu multilayers with inserted Co of thickness of 3 /spl Aring/ was found to be significantly increased. These results can be explained by the enhanced interlayer antiferromagnetic coupling and spin-dependent scattering phenomena at the interface. Of particular interest, the "Clustered out-growth" in the surface morphology of these multilayers was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]