/spl alpha/-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ spin-valve using Co/Ru/Co synthetic antiferromagnet

This paper reports the enlargement of pinning field, H/sub p/, in spin-valves with /spl alpha/-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ as a pinning layer utilizing a Co/Ru/Co synthetic antiferromagnet as the pinned layer. H/sub p/ of /spl alpha/-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3//Co is only 18 kA/m with a 20-nm-thick /spl alpha/-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ layer. On the other hand, H/sub p/ is improved over 40 kA/m by replacing the pinned layer with Co/Ru/Co synthetic antiferromagnet. We studied the dependence of H/sub p/ in /spl alpha/-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ spin-valves with the Co/Ru/Co on Ru and /spl alpha/-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ layer thickness.