Magnetic tunnel junctions using Heusler alloys

Abstract

The remarkable feature of half-metallic Heusler alloys is high effective spin polarization of conduction electrons, which directly causes large tunnel magnetoresistance (over 300% at room temperature and ~2,000% at low temperature) as well as current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance. Studies on the magnetic tunnel junctions and their characteristics are overviewed, including a couple of specific topics such as spin-transfer-torque magnetization switching.