Hard-soft GMR sensors with Co-Rh based artificial antiferromagnetic subsystem

The superiority of Rh as antiferromagnetic (AF) coupler in the magnetic rigid Co/Rh/Co subsystem (AAF) of GMR sensors compared to Cu is experimentally demonstrated. It originates in the more than ten times higher coupling strength (J/sub max/=-5 mJ/m/sup 2/) of sputtered Co/Rh/Co sandwiches. On Rh/Cu buffers, the relative Rh-thickness window with complete AF coupling is three times larger than of Cu, thus relieving the deposition tolerances. The stability window of the rotating field in angle detectors increases by a factor of two for the Rh-AAF's. The angular resolution of 0.2/spl deg/ of Rh-sensors is a factor of four better than for their Cu pendants.