Effect of contact geometry on magnetoresistance in CoPd‐contacted carbon nanotubes. Issue 12 (7th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morgan, Caitlin; Metten, Dominik; Schneider, Claus M.; Meyer, Carola
• Is Part Of: Physica status solidi. Volume 250:Issue 12(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 2622
• Page End: 2626
• Publication Date: 2013-10-07
• Subjects: Solid state physics -- Periodicals; Solids -- Periodicals; Atomic structure -- Periodicals; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1002/pssb.201300068
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0370-1972

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="pssb201300068-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>We present local magnetoresistance measurements on carbon nanotubes contacted with the ferromagnetic alloy Co<sub>50</sub> Pd<sub>50</sub>. A sample with contacts of <alternatives><inline-graphic mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgg3z8s4bj6" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><mml:math altimg="urn:x-wiley:15213951:media:pssb201300068:pssb201300068-math-0001" display="inline" overflow="scroll" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">dimensions</mml:mi><mml:mi> </mml:mi><mml:mi mathvariant="italic">thickness</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>10</mml:mn></mml:math></alternatives>nm, <alternatives><inline-graphic mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgg3z8s4c7r" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><mml:math altimg="urn:x-wiley:15213951:media:pssb201300068:pssb201300068-math-0002" display="inline" overflow="scroll" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">length</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>4</mml:mn><mml:mspace width="thinmathspace" /><mml:mi>μ</mml:mi></mml:math></alternatives>m exhibited the typical sharp switching expected at the coercive fields of the contacts. However, a sample with the same in‐plane geometry but a thickness of 40 nm displayed a complicated switching behavior indicative of gradual domain wall rotation. In both samples, the contact widths were varied to control shape anisotropy. Further characterization of the contacts and similar contact‐like structures via remanent state magnetic force microscopy suggested a single or few domain structure in the 10 nm thick contacts. The thicker contacts exhibited a complex domain structure characteristic of a hard or intermediate magnetic axis along the long axis of the contact, despite the effect of shape anisotropy. This result is discussed with respect to the influence of both thickness and in‐plane geometry on competing anisotropy contributions within the device. The characterization allows for the pinpointing of precise dimensions that will determine the magnetic easy axis of contacts, thereby controlling magnetotransport.</p> </sec> </abstract>