The remagnetization process in spin-valve structures

Abstract The process of magnetization reversal in ultrathin magnetic trilayer is analyzed. It is shown that the shape of magnetization hysteresis loops and the giant magnetoresistance essentially depend on the relative magnitudes of magnetic parameters of the top and the bottom layers. New types of hysteresis loops are found for characteristic relative magnitudes of the parameters. Analysis of the dependence of the shape of hysteresis loops on the magnitude of interlayer exchange is performed. The phase diagram which determines the regions of existence of characteristic hysteresis loops for different relative magnitudes of the uniaxial anisotropy constant and exchange constant J 1 is constructed.