Asymmetric reversal in inhomogeneous magnetic heterostructures

Asymmetric magnetization reversal is an unusual phenomenon in antiferromagnet/ferromagnet (AF/FM) exchange biased bilayers. We investigated this phenomenon in a simple model system experimentally and by simulation assuming inhomogeneously distributed interfacial AF moments. The results suggest that...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Li, Zhi-Pan, Petracic, Oleg, Morales, Rafael, Batlle Gelabert, Xavier, Liu, Kai, Schuller, Ivan K.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2006
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/13284
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/13284
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Materials
Propietats magnètiques
Magnetic properties and materials
Descripción
Sumario:Asymmetric magnetization reversal is an unusual phenomenon in antiferromagnet/ferromagnet (AF/FM) exchange biased bilayers. We investigated this phenomenon in a simple model system experimentally and by simulation assuming inhomogeneously distributed interfacial AF moments. The results suggest that the observed asymmetry originates from the intrinsic broken symmetry of the system, which results in local incomplete domain walls parallel to the interface in reversal to negative saturation of the FM. The magneto-optical Kerr effect unambiguously confirms such an asymmetric reversal and a depth-dependent FM domain wall in accord with the magnetometry and simulations.