Antiferromagnetic Cr-Ga layers with a high Neel temperature for biasing spin valves

The magnetic properties, anti-corrosion properties and thermal stability of Cr/sub 93/Ga/sub 7/ bilayers and multilayer spin valves have been investigated. In corrosion resistance tests under 35/spl deg/C with 90% humidity conditions, the MR ratio for Cr/sub 93/Ga/sub 7/, did not change, while the MR ratio for FeMn spin valve was lost after 15 days, CrGa/FeCo/Cu/FeCo spin valves were determined to be more thermally stable than CrGa/NiFe/Cu/NiFe and FeMn/NiFe/Cu/NiFe spin valves.