Magnetization and magnetoresistance of a spin valve

Hysteresis of magnetization and magnetoresistance caused by a change in the orientation of the free layer of a spin valve has been investigated theoretically. It has been shown that the width of the hysteresis loop determined from the data on the dependence of the magnetic moment of the valve on the magnetic field can be less than the width of the loop determined from the resistive data. Formulas have been obtained that describe the dependence of the width of the hysteresis loop on the magnetic field at various values of the exchange field acting on the free layer.