Zigzag-shaped magnetic sensors

Published

December 13, 2004

Author(s)

Fabio C. da Silva, Willard C. Uhlig, Anthony B. Kos, Susan A. Schima, Joe Aumentado, John Unguris, David P. Pappas

Abstract

Magnetism in zigzag-shaped thin-film elements is investigated using scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis, magnetotransport measurements, and micromagnetic simulations. We find that the angle of magnetization alternates along the length of the element, and is strongly correlated to the corrugated edges. We show that this simple and unique geometry can be used as a single-axis magnetic field sensor. In this configuration, the sensors are primarily sensitive to fields parallel to the applied current. Our results can be interpreted in terms of a coherent rotation model of the magnetization. These devices are scalable to nanometer dimensions.

Citation

Applied Physics Letters

Volume

85

Issue

24

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

magnetic sensors, magnetoresistance, nanoscale magnetism

Citation

da Silva, F. , Uhlig, W. , Kos, A. , Schima, S. , Aumentado, J. , Unguris, J. and Pappas, D. (2004), Zigzag-shaped magnetic sensors, Applied Physics Letters (Accessed May 30, 2023)