A series of Fe/MgO/Fe(100) trilayer structures with MgO thicknesses ranging from 12 to 1000 Å was grown at 75 °C by molecular beam epitaxy. The structures are all epitaxial, and for MgO thicknesses below 75 Å, the Fe layers are ferromagnetically coupled. The MgO spacer thickness dependence of the coupling energy shows a change in slope at 25 Å, suggesting a change in growth morphology. Perpendicular transport measurements show ohmic current-voltage characteristics with high conductance up to 1000 Å MgO interlayer thicknesses, indicating that the coupling is not due to spin-dependent tunneling. Investigations of the growth morphology reveal the existence of ferromagnetic bridges across the MgO layer.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Keavney et al. (1997) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 4 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: