Perpendicular Exchange Coupling in TbFeCo/FePt Bilayer Films

We investigate the structure and exchange coupling in TbFeCo/FePt bilayer films. It is found that FePt has the L10 structure and the easy axis of the FePt film is perpendicular to the film plane. Results of the vibrating sample magnetometer and the magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements show a strong perpendicular exchange coupling between the ferrimagnetic TbFeCo layer and the hard ferromagnetic FePt layer. The magnetization direction of each layer and the process of magnetization reversal are discussed in detail. The switching field dependence on the exchange coupling has been modelled by micromagnetic simulation and the interlayer coupling constant is about -0.9 erg/cm^2 according to this simulation.