We report on ballistic electron magnetic microscopy studies at room temperature using an epitaxially grown ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{34}{\mathrm{Co}}_{66}∕\mathrm{Au}∕{\mathrm{Fe}}_{34}{\mathrm{Co}}_{66}$ trilayer. Local hysteresis loops are obtained as a function of the in-plane magnetic field angle. In order to understand the underlying local magnetization behavior, the magnetic anisotropies were determined by ferromagnetic resonance. These results served as input for simulations of the hysteresis loops, which are compared to magneto-optic Kerr effect and ballistic electron magnetic microscopy data of the spin valve. In doing so, the relative magnetization configuration of the spin valve can be calculated as a function of the external magnetic field, and the magnetization behavior during the reversal can be explained. Since different magnetization configurations of the spin valve are available, epitaxial spin valves allow multimagnetocurrent values, when the magnetic field is applied along different directions.

• Received 6 June 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.76.104435