Giant magnetoimpedance of composite wires with an insulation layer

Composite wires with a three-layered structure exhibit a large giant magneto-impedance (GMI) effect, which can be used in sensitive magnetic field sensors. To further investigate the origin of the GMI effect, composite wires consisting of a highly conductive copper core, a silicon dioxide layer and an outer Permalloy shell were prepared by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The GMI ratio was measured at various driving current frequencies and with different insulating layer thicknesses. A theoretical model by coupling the Maxwell equations to the Landau-Lifschitz-Gilbert equation was developed to investigate the composite wire impedance and its dependence on external magnetic field, current frequency and insulating layer thickness. Experimental results corroborate the theoretical model.