Spin dependent tunneling and interface characterization in epitaxial Fe/MgO/Fe magnetic tunnel junctions

This paper presents huge tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) effect in epitaxial Fe/MgO/Fe magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) at room temperature predicted by first-principle theory. Surface X-ray diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectra, and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism is used for interface characterization. The interfacial structure plays a crucial role on coherent tunneling in epitaxial MgO-based MTJs grown by molecular beam epitaxy.