Magnetization reversal processes in magnetic bicrystal junctions

Journal article, 2006

We provide experimental data for the magnetoresistance in epitaxial ferromagnetic manganite (La0.7Sr0.3MnO3) bicrystals with various angles. Experiments were conducted using samples with in-plane magnetization as well as with out-of-plane magnetization. The magnetoresistance hysteresis is interpreted directly into different magnetization reversal processes. We show that it is possible to set the electrode magnetization at remanence such that the spins at the bicrystal interface are either parallel or inclined to each other at an angle determined by the crystal orientations. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of using epitaxial magnetic bicrystals to probe the transport properties in magnetic junctions with well-determined angles of magnetization.