Magnetic multilayer and magnetoresistance effect element.

摘要

A magnetic multilayer is an alternate stack of a plurality of magnetic thin films containing Fe, Co or Ni and a plurality of Ag thin film. Both the films are formed by molecular beam epitaxy to a thickness of 2 to 60 ANGSTROM . The multilayer has an axis of easy magnetization in a plane parallel to the surface and an in-plane squareness ratio of 0.5 or lower and exhibits antiferromagnetism. The multilayer shows giant magnetoresistance change in low magnetic fields, for example, a magnetoresistance change of 1 to 40% in a magnetic field of 0.01 to 20 kOe.