Tunneling Phenomena as a Probe to Investigate Atomic Scale Fluctuations in Metal/Oxide/Metal Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

V. Da Costa, C. Tiusan, T. Dimopoulos, and K. Ounadjela
Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 876 – Published 24 July 2000
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Abstract

Local transport properties of Al2O3 tunnel barriers have been investigated at a nanometric spatial scale with an unconventional near field microscope. Using the tunneling effect, which is extremely sensitive to fluctuations of the barrier parameters (less than 1 to 2), a unique method is introduced to investigate the tunnel barrier quality. This technique provides atomic scale information on the barrier characteristics which cannot be obtained by conventional surface analysis techniques since they are all subject to averaging over surface and depth.

  • Received 28 February 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.876

©2000 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

V. Da Costa, C. Tiusan, T. Dimopoulos, and K. Ounadjela

  • Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, CNRS (UMR 7504) and Université Louis Pasteur, 23 rue du Loess, 67037 Strasbourg Cedex, France

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Vol. 85, Iss. 4 — 24 July 2000

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