Magnetoresistive element and magnetic memory

1. A magnetoresistive element comprising:

a first magnetic layer;

a second magnetic layer;

a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer; and

a third magnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the first nonmagnetic layer or between the second magnetic layer and the first nonmagnetic layer, or provided between the first magnetic layer and the first nonmagnetic layer and between the second magnetic layer and the first nonmagnetic layer, the third magnetic layer including a Heusler alloy,

the first magnetic layer including a magnetic film of Mn x Ge y (77 atm %≦x≦82 atm %, 18 atm %≦y≦23 atm %, x+y=100 atm %).

2. The element according to claim 1 , wherein the third magnetic layer includes one of Co 2 FeSi, Co 2 MnSi, and Co 2 MnGe.

3. The element according to claim 1 , wherein when at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, B, C, P, Ti, Zn, Mg, Ca, Cr, and Ga is expressed as X, the magnetic film of the first magnetic layer contains (Mn x Ge y ) 100-z X z (77 atm %≦x≦82 atm %, 18 atm %≦y≦23 atm %, x+y=100 atm %, z≦10 atm %).

4. The element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer has a single crystal structure.

5. The element according to claim 1 , wherein the third magnetic layer contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Al, and Ge.

6. The element according to claim 1 , wherein the third magnetic layer contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, and Ni.

7. The element according to claim 1 , wherein the first nonmagnetic layer contains either an oxide containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Ba, Al, Be, Sr, Zn, Ti, V, and Nb or an oxide containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ce, Dy, La, K, Ca, Na, Pb, and Ba and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ga, Nb, Mo, Ru, Ir, Ta, Ce, and Pb.

8. The element according to claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic layer is formed on a base layer, the base layer being one layer selected from the group consisting of:

a layer of nitride having a NaCl structure containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Nb, V, Hf, Ta, Mo, W, B, Al, and Ce;

a layer of oxide containing one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ce, Dy, La, K, Ca, Na, Pb, and Ba, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ga, Nb, Mo, Ru, Ir, Ta, Ce, and Pb;

a layer of oxide having a NaCl structure containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, and Ce; and

a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Fe, Co, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Pt, and Au, and having a (001) oriented tetragonal or cubic structure.

9. The element according to claim 1 , wherein:

each of the first and the second magnetic layers has an easy magnetization axis in a direction perpendicular to a film plane;

when a write current is caused to flow between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer via the first nonmagnetic layer, a direction of magnetization of the first magnetic layer is changeable, and a direction of magnetization of the second magnetic layer is fixed;

the magnetoresistive element further includes a fourth magnetic layer located on a side of the second magnetic layer opposite from the first nonmagnetic layer, and having an easy magnetization axis in a direction perpendicular to the film plane, a direction of magnetization of the fourth magnetic layer being antiparallel with a direction of magnetization of the second magnetic layer;

the magnetoresistive element further includes a second nonmagnetic layer located between the second magnetic layer and the fourth magnetic layer; and

the magnetoresistive element meets a relationship represented by an expression Ms 2 ×t 2 <Ms 4 ×t 4 , where a saturation magnetization of the second magnetic layer is Ms 2 , a thickness of the second magnetic layer is t 2 , a saturation magnetization of the fourth magnetic layer is Ms 4 , and a thickness of the fourth magnetic layer is t 4 .

10. A magnetic memory comprising:

the magnetoresistive element according to claim 1 ;

a first wiring electrically connecting to the first magnetic layer of the magnetoresistive element; and

a second wiring electrically connecting to the second magnetic layer of the magnetoresistive element.

11. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein the third magnetic layer includes one of Co 2 FeSi, Co 2 MnSi, and Co 2 MnGe.

12. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein when at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, B, C, P, Ti, Zn, Mg, Ca, Cr, and Ga is expressed as X, the magnetic film of the first magnetic layer contains (Mn x Ge y ) 100-z X z (77 atm %≦x≦82 atm %, 18 atm %≦y≦23 atm %, x+y=100 atm %, z≦10 atm %).

13. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer has a single crystal structure.

14. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein the third magnetic layer contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Al, and Ge.

15. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein the third magnetic layer contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, and Ni.

16. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein the first nonmagnetic layer contains either an oxide containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Ba, Al, Be, Sr, Zn, Ti, V, and Nb or an oxide containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ce, Dy, La, K, Ca, Na, Pb, and Ba and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ga, Nb, Mo, Ru, Ir, Ta, Ce, and Pb.

17. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein the first magnetic layer is formed on a base layer, the base layer being one layer selected from the group consisting of:

a layer of nitride having a NaCl structure containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Nb, V, Hf, Ta, Mo, W, B, Al, and Ce;

a layer of oxide containing one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ce, Dy, La, K, Ca, Na, Pb, and Ba, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ga, Nb, Mo, Ru, Ir, Ta, Ce, and Pb;

a layer of oxide having a NaCl structure containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, and Ce; and

a layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Fe, Co, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Pt, and Au, and having a (001) oriented tetragonal or cubic structure.

18. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein:

each of the first and the second magnetic layers has an easy magnetization axis in a direction perpendicular to a film plane;

when a write current is caused to flow between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer via the first nonmagnetic layer, a direction of magnetization of the first magnetic layer is changeable, and a direction of magnetization of the second magnetic layer is fixed;

the magnetoresistive element further includes a fourth magnetic layer located on a side of the second magnetic layer opposite from the first nonmagnetic layer, and having an easy magnetization axis in a direction perpendicular to the film plane, a direction of magnetization of the fourth magnetic layer being antiparallel with a direction of magnetization of the second magnetic layer;

the magnetoresistive element further includes a second nonmagnetic layer located between the second magnetic layer and the fourth magnetic layer; and

the magnetoresistive element meets a relationship represented by an expression Ms 2 ×t 2 <Ms 4 ×t 4 , where a saturation magnetization of the second magnetic layer is Ms 2 , a thickness of the second magnetic layer is t 2 , a saturation magnetization of the fourth magnetic layer is Ms 4 , and a thickness of the fourth magnetic layer is t 4 .