Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
The microstructure of Co90Feio/Ag giant magnetoresistive multilayer films has been investigated using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. Columnar grains with a (111) fiber growth texture is observed. A comparison is made between the observed layering structure and earlier multilayer schematics based on the literature and magnetic and magnetoresistive measurements as a function of layer thickness. A direct correlation is made between superlattice satellite peak signals from selected area electron diffraction patterns and XRD scans.