Analysis of Spin Polarization in Half-Metallic Heusler Alloys

Half-metals have recently gained great interest in the field of spintronics because their 100% spin polarization may make them an ideal current source for spintronic devices. This project examines four Heusler Alloys of the form Co2FexMn1−xSi that are expected to be half-metallic. Two magnetic properties of these alloys were examined, the Anisotropic Magnetoresistance (AMR) and the Anomalous Hall Effect (AHE). These properties have the potential to be used as simple and fast ways to identify materials as half-metallic or non-half-metallic. The results of these measurements were also used to examine the spin polarization and other properties of these materials