Large crystalline-induced magnetic anisotropy and field-direction-dependent magnetoresistance in Co(11¯00)/Cr(211) superlattices

High-quality Co(11{}00)/Cr(211) superlattices have been successfully prepared and characterized. Excellent heteroepitaxial (hcp/bcc) growth of Co/Cr superlattices was evidenced by fine streaks in reflection high-energy electron diffraction and superlattice satellites in x-ray diffraction. The magnetic hysteresis loops and magnetoresistance (MR) show strong crystalline-induced magnetic anisotropy and a field-direction-dependent MR effect. We have observed large transverse (I{⊥}H) MR up to about 18% with magnetic field H along the in-plane hard axis Co[112{}0], and current I along the in-plane easy axis Co[0001], and small longitudinal MR ({~}0.8%) for I{∥}H{∥}Co[112{}0]. On the other hand, negligible longitudinal and transverse MR's (0.1%) were observed for H{∥}Co[0001].