Specific features of the Hall effect in Cr/Co bilayer films

The Hall effect and magnetoresistance in Cr(50 Å)/Co(200 Å) bilayer films prepared by ion sputtering on a silicon substrate are investigated at room temperature. The planar Hall effect revealed in the bilayer films differs from the planar Hall effect observed usually in that it is symmetric with respect to the sign of the change in the rotation angle of the magnetic moment in the film plane. Under conditions where the symmetric planar Hall effect is realized, the change in the Hall resistance is more than 10% and exceeds the anisotropic magnetoresistance by two orders of magnitude. The hysteresis loops are measured at different orientations of magnetic fields. The planar Hall effect is studied in a weak longitudinal magnetic field. The results obtained demonstrate that the symmetric planar Hall effect is associated with the multidomain structure of the cobalt film in Cr/Co bilayer composites.