Magnetic tunneling junctions with the Heusler compound Co_2Cr_{0.6}Fe_{0.4}Al

TL;DR

This paper investigates magnetic tunneling junctions using the Heusler alloy Co_2Cr_{0.6}Fe_{0.4}Al as an electrode, analyzing their magnetic and electrical properties across a wide temperature range.

Contribution

It introduces the use of the Heusler alloy Co_2Cr_{0.6}Fe_{0.4}Al in magnetic tunneling junctions and characterizes their magnetoresistive and magnetic properties.

Findings

Magnetoresistive differential conductivity measured from 4K to 300K.

Barrier properties analyzed using the Simmons model.

Magnetic properties examined with VSM measurements.

Abstract

The Heusler alloy is used as an electrode of magnetic tunneling junctions. The junctions are deposited by magnetron dc sputtering using shadow mask techniques with AlO_{x} as a barrier and cobalt as counter electrode. Measurements of the magnetoresistive differential conductivity in a temperature range between 4K and 300K are shown. An analysis of the barrier properties applying the Simmons model to the bias dependent junction conductivity is performed. VSM measurements were carried out to examine the magnetic properties of the samples.