Highly field-sensitive transverse-biased non-hysteretic spin valves

Transverse biasing effect on spin valves was studied by use of a uniform rotation model. The effect was proved to be substantial in improving non-hysteretic spin valves in the field sensitivity, although the dynamic range was sacrificed to some extent. An experimental test showed that compared with the conventional spin valve in which the pinning field direction is set perpendicular to the easy axis of the free layer, 2.5 times sensitivity was obtained with a dynamic range of 0.6 times compared to that of the ideal conventional case. Calculation showed that a self-biasing effect by tilting the pinning field direction of the pinned layer from the easy axis of the soft magnetic layer was also effective in enhancing the field sensitivity.