Contribution from moldcular field to the temperature dependence of tunneling magnetoresistance

Abstract

Based on the nearly free-electron approximation, we have investigaed the temperature (T) dependence of spin-polarized tunneling in the magnetic tunnel junction with an asymmetrical barrier, with emphasis on the variation of molecular field with T in the same way as that of surface magnetization. It is found that the Slonczewski model can describe well the T dependence of spin-polarized tunneling, while the Julliere model only describes the T dependence of JMR qualitatively, but does accurately that of the difference of tunneling conductance between the parallel and antiparallel alignments for the magnetizations of FMs; Differing from the previous finding, we find the electron spin polarization is not strictly proportional to the surface magnetization, for the former decreases with the increasing T more rapidly than the latter does.