| A heretofore unstudied configuration of the superconducting spin valve, (SSV) is presented in which nanometer scale layers of Niobium (Nb) and Permalloy (Py) are used to prepare an F'FS, pinned ferromagnet (F) /free Ferromagnet (F) /superconducting (S) structure. Thin film samples were prepared in a high vacuum sputtering chamber and their properties were studied using a Physical Properties Measurement System. With the materials and equipment used it was determined that the SSV, superconducting spin valve effect, is obscured by the bulk effect when the Niobium thickness is greater than 160 nm and that for samples of Nb layers near thicknesses of 40 nm resistance induced by stray magnetic fields was the dominant characteristic in the magnetoresistance. For comparison, analogue FS bilayer and F'SF trilayer structures were also prepared. From the magnetoresistance (MR) in the FS bilayer it seems strongly likely that MR in the F'FS structure was only affected by the free ferromagnetic, F, layer. |
