Perpendicular Anisotropic Magnetoresistance Induced by Surface Spin-Orbit Scattering in a MgO/Fe/Cu Heterostructure

A large perpendicular anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) is obtained in a MgO/Fe/Cu heterostructure, with a maximum AMR ratio of 0.59%. The perpendicular AMR is approximately inversely dependent on the thickness of the Fe layer above 2.5 nm. It can be increased by enhanced structural asymmetry, which implies an interface effect mainly derived from interfacial Rashba spin-orbit scattering in the MgO/Fe/Cu heterostructure. The perpendicular AMR is temperature dependent.