Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer and a tunnel barrier layer. The tunnel barrier layer has a main body region and a first interface region. The main body region has an oxide material of a first spinel structure represented by a general formula LM2O4. The first interface region has at least one element X selected from a group consisting of elements having a valence of 2 and elements having a valence of 3 excluding Al and has an oxide material of a second spinel structure represented by a general formula DG2O4(D represents one or more kinds of elements including Mg or the element X, and G represents one or more kinds of elements including Al or the element X). A content of the element X contained in the first interface region is larger than that of the element X contained in the main body region.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element has a first ferromagnetic metal layer, a second ferromagnetic metal layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is sandwiched between the first and second ferromagnetic metal layers, and the tunnel barrier layer has a spinel structure represented by a composition formula AGa2Ox (0<x?4), and an A-site is a non-magnetic divalent cation which is one or more selected from a group consisting of magnesium, zinc and cadmium.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetoresistance effect element in which a tunnel barrier layer stably has a cation disordered spinel structure. This magnetoresistance effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a tunnel barrier layer disposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. In addition, the tunnel barrier layer is an oxide of MgxAl1-x (0?x<1) and an amount of oxygen in the tunnel barrier layer is lower than an amount of oxygen in a fully oxidized state in which the oxide has an ordered spinel structure.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetoresistive effect element having improved magnetoresistive effect. A magnetoresistive effect element MR includes a first ferromagnetic layer 4 as a fixed magnetization layer, a second ferromagnetic layer 6 as a free magnetization layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer 5 provided between the first ferromagnetic layer 4 and the second ferromagnetic layer 6. The nonmagnetic spacer layer 5 includes at least one of a first insertion layer 5A provided under the nonmagnetic spacer layer 5 and a second insertion layer 5C provided over the nonmagnetic spacer layer 5. The first insertion layer 5A and the second insertion layer 5C are made of Fe2TiSi.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect element, which includes: a first ferromagnetic layer as a magnetization fixed layer; a second ferromagnetic layer as a magnetization free layer; and a nonmagnetic spacer layer provided between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer includes an Ag alloy represented by General Formula (1), and thereby lattice mismatch between the nonmagnetic spacer layer, and the first ferromagnetic layer and/or the second ferromagnetic layer is reduced, compared to lattice mismatch when the nonmagnetic spacer layer is formed of Ag, Ag? X1-???(1) where X indicates one element selected from the group made of Al, Cu, Ga, Ge, As, Y, La, Sm, Yb, and Pt, and 0<?<1.

Abstract: A laminate includes, on a substrate, a first buffer layer substantially made of zirconium oxide or stabilized zirconia, a second buffer layer substantially made of yttrium oxide, a metal layer substantially made of at least one among platinum, iridium, palladium, rhodium, vanadium, chromium, iron, molybdenum, tungsten, aluminum, silver, gold, copper, and nickel, and a magnesium oxide layer substantially made of magnesium oxide, in this order.

Abstract: A laminated structure includes a ferromagnetic layer, a multiferroic layer provided on one surface of the ferromagnetic layer, and a ferroelectric layer which is provided on the multiferroic layer opposite to the ferromagnetic layer and has a permittivity greater than that of the multiferroic layer.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and at least one of a first nonmagnetic insertion layer provided directly on a lower surface of the nonmagnetic layer and a second nonmagnetic insertion layer provided directly on an upper surface of the nonmagnetic layer. The first nonmagnetic insertion layer and the second nonmagnetic insertion layer include an Ag alloy represented by General Formula (1): Ag?X1-? where X indicates one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Cu, Ga, Ge, As, Y, La, Sm, Yb, and Pt, and 0<?<1.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element has a first ferromagnetic metal layer, a second ferromagnetic metal layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is sandwiched between the first and second ferromagnetic metal layers, and the tunnel barrier layer has a spinel structure in which cations are disordered, and contains a divalent cation of a non-magnetic element, a trivalent cation of a non-magnetic element, oxygen, and one of nitrogen and fluorine.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect element, which includes: a first ferromagnetic layer as a magnetization fixed layer; a second ferromagnetic layer as a magnetization free layer; and a nonmagnetic spacer layer provided between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer includes an Ag alloy represented by General Formula (1), and thereby lattice mismatch between the nonmagnetic spacer layer, and the first ferromagnetic layer and/or the second ferromagnetic layer is reduced, compared to lattice mismatch when the nonmagnetic spacer layer is formed of Ag, Ag?X1-???(1) where X indicates one element selected from the group made of Al, Cu, Ga, Ge, As, Y, La, Sm, Yb, and Pt, and 0<?<1.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is interposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The tunnel barrier layer is a stacked body including one or more high-barrier-height layers and one or more low-barrier-height layers, the one or more high-barrier-height layers having a relatively high barrier height with respect to the one or more low-barrier-height layers and the one or more low-barrier-height layers having a relatively low barrier height with respect to the one or more high-barrier-height layers. A minimum difference of barrier height between the one or more high-barrier-height layers and the one or more low-barrier-height layers is equal to or higher than 0.5 eV.

Abstract: A nonmagnetic spacer layer in a magnetoresistive effect element includes a nonmagnetic metal layer that is formed of Ag and at least one of a first insertion layer that is disposed on a bottom surface of the nonmagnetic metal layer and a second insertion layer that is disposed on a top surface of the nonmagnetic metal layer. The first insertion layer and the second insertion layer include an Fe alloy that is expressed by Fe?X1-?. Here, X denotes one or more elements selected from a group consisting of O, Al, Si, Ga, Mo, Ag, and Au, and ? satisfies 0<?<1.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is interposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The tunnel barrier layer is a stacked body including one or more first oxide layers having a spinel structure and one or more second oxide layers having a spinel structure with a composition which is different from a composition of the first oxide layer.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetoresistive effect element having improved magnetoresistive effect. A magnetoresistive effect element MR includes a first ferromagnetic layer 4 as a fixed magnetization layer, a second ferromagnetic layer 6 as a free magnetization layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer 5 provided between the first ferromagnetic layer 4 and the second ferromagnetic layer 6. The nonmagnetic spacer layer 5 includes at least one of a first insertion layer 5A provided under the nonmagnetic spacer layer 5 and a second insertion layer 5C provided over the nonmagnetic spacer layer 5. The first insertion layer 5A and the second insertion layer 5C are made of Fe2TiSi.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element has a first ferromagnetic metal layer, a second ferromagnetic metal layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is sandwiched between the first and second ferromagnetic metal layers, and the tunnel barrier layer has a spinel structure represented by a composition formula of AIn2Ox(0<x?4), and an A-site is a non-magnetic divalent cation which is one or more selected from a group consisting of magnesium, zinc and cadmium.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect element includes: a first ferromagnetic layer as a magnetization fixed layer; a second ferromagnetic layer as a magnetization free layer; and a nonmagnetic spacer layer provided between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer includes a nonmagnetic metal layer formed of Ag, and at least one of a first nonmagnetic insertion layer provided on a lower surface of the nonmagnetic metal layer and a second nonmagnetic insertion layer provided on an upper surface of the nonmagnetic metal layer. The first nonmagnetic insertion layer and the second nonmagnetic insertion layer include an Ag alloy, and thereby lattice mismatch between the nonmagnetic spacer layer, and the first ferromagnetic layer and/or the second ferromagnetic layer is reduced, compared to lattice mismatch when the entire nonmagnetic spacer layer is formed of Ag.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element includes: a first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer; and a tunnel barrier layer sandwiched between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, wherein the tunnel barrier layer is an oxide having a spinel structure, and the tunnel barrier layer includes a magnetic element as an additional element.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element has a first ferromagnetic metal layer, a second ferromagnetic metal layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is sandwiched between the first and second ferromagnetic metal layers, and the tunnel barrier layer has a spinel structure in which cations are disordered, and contains a divalent cation of a non-magnetic element, a trivalent cation of a non-magnetic element, oxygen, and one of nitrogen and fluorine.

Abstract: A laminated structure according to an embodiment includes: a ferromagnetic layer; and a multiferroic layer formed on one surface of the ferromagnetic layer, wherein a surface of the multiferroic layer on the ferromagnetic layer side includes a first region, a crystalline phase of which is rhombohedral, and a second region, a crystalline phase of which is tetragonal.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element has a first ferromagnetic metal layer, a second ferromagnetic metal layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is sandwiched between the first and second ferromagnetic metal layers, and the tunnel barrier layer has a spinel structure represented by a composition formula AGa2Ox (0<x?4), and an A-site is a non-magnetic divalent cation which is one or more selected from a group consisting of magnesium, zinc and cadmium.