Temperature dependence of the magnetoresistance in CoÕRe superlattices on Al2O3 „112̄0..

Using a patterned hcp @Co ~17 Å!/Re (7Å)]20 antiferromagnetically coupled superlattice, with the c axis in the film plane, magnetoresistance ~MR! measurements were made in the temperature range between 5 K and room temperature. The MR was simulated and decomposed into its anisotropic magnetoresistance ~AMR! and giant magnetoresistance ~GMR! components using the magnetization as a function of angle determined from neutron reflectivity experiments. We find that the GMR is anisotropic and has a different temperature dependence than the AMR when I'c and a similar dependence when Iic , where I is the applied current. This implies that interface spin-dependent scattering plays a more significant role when I'c than when Iic .