Role of TbFe on Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy and Giant Magnetoresistance Effect in [Co/Ni]-Based Spin Valves.

The exchange-coupled [Co/Ni]/TbFe nano-magnetic films can display strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) which depends on the Tb:Fe component ratio, TbFe layer thickness and the repetition number N of [Co/Ni] multilayer. Perpendicular spin valves in the nano thickness scale, consisting of a [Co/Ni] free and a [Co/Ni]/TbFe reference multilayer, show high giant magnetoresistance (GMR) signal of 6.5 % and a large switching field difference over 3 kOe.