Two-stage magnetization reversal in exchange biased bilayers

MnF(2)/Fe bilayers exhibit asymmetric magnetization reversal that occurs by coherent rotation on one side of the loop and by nucleation and propagation of domain walls on the other side of the loop. Here, we show by polarized neutron reflectometry, magnetization, and magnetotransport measurements that for samples with good crystalline "quality" the rotation is a two-stage process, due to coherent rotation to a stable state perpendicular to the cooling field direction. The result is remarkably asymmetrically shaped hysteresis loops.     

Asymmetric magnetization reversal on exchange biased CoO/Co bilayers

We study magnetic hysteresis loops after field cooling of a CoO/Co bilayer by MOKE and polarized neutron reflectivity. The neutron scattering reveals that the first magnetization reversal after field cooling is dominated by domain wall movement, whereas all subsequent reversals proceed essentially by rotation of the magnetization. In addition, off-specular diffuse scattering indicates that the first magnetization reversal induces an irreversible change of the domain state in the antiferromagnet.     

Modeling of magnetization processes in exchange coupled fluoride bilayers

The angular dependence of the hysteresis loops of ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic (FM/AF) bilayer with a compensated interface is investigated by means of numerical simulation for a perfect single-crystalline AF layer having no AF domains at the FM/AF interface, as well as for a twinned AF layer. For applied magnetic field direction nearly parallel to the AF easy axis the completely reversible loops with finite exchange bias field have been obtained for the uniform case, while a large exchange bias has been found for the twinned case, in agreement with experimental results.     

Co-Ni/FeMn双层膜中磁化强度对交换偏置的影响

固定CoNiFeMn双层膜中反铁磁层的厚度,改变CoNi铁磁层的成分来调节磁化强度,从而研究铁磁层的饱和磁化强度对CoNiFeMn双层膜中交换偏置的影响.研究表明,CoNiFeMn界面的交换耦合能U不是一个常量,而是随(MFM)12的增加而线性增加.其原因是铁磁层磁矩通过界面相互作用在反铁磁层中形成的局域交换磁场,在磁场冷却时影响反铁磁层的自旋结构或磁畴结构及双层膜中的交换偏置 关键词： 交换偏置 磁化强度     

Reversing the training effect in exchange biased CoO/Co bilayers

We performed a detailed study of the training effect in exchange biased CoO/Co bilayers. High-resolution measurements of the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) display an asymmetry in the first magnetization reversal process and training in the subsequent reversal processes. Surprisingly, the AMR measurements as well as magnetization measurements reveal that it is possible to partially reinduce the untrained state by performing a hysteresis measurement with an in-plane external field perpendicular to the cooling field. Indeed, the next hysteresis loop obtained in a field parallel to the cooling field resembles the initial asymmetric hysteresis loop, but with a reduced amount of spin rotation occurring at the first coercive field. This implies that the antiferromagnetic domains, which are created during the first reversal after cooling, can be partially erased.     

交换偏置双层膜中的反铁磁自旋结构及其交换各向异性

研究了交换偏置双层膜中界面存在二次以及双二次交换耦合下反铁磁磁矩转动及其交换各向异性.结果表明，其反铁磁膜中的磁矩转动存在可逆“恢复行为”、不可逆“半转动行为”、不可逆“倒转行为”以及不可逆“半倒转行为”四种情形，四种情形的出现强烈地依赖于界面二次、双二次耦合以及反铁磁膜厚度.其中可逆恢复行为情况下，系统出现交换偏置，而不可逆的半转、半倒转以及倒转情形，系统不出现交换偏置.特别地,在界面处仅存在双二次耦合的情形下，其界面双二次耦合常数J₂≤0.1 σ关键词： 反铁磁自旋结构 交换各向异性 界面双二次耦合 交换偏置     

The influence of annealing on the bimodal distribution of blocking temperatures of exchange biased bilayers

The exchange bias effect at the interface between antiferromagnetic (AFM) and ferromagnetic (FM) layers is of paramount importance in state‐of‐the‐art spintronic devices. However, a complete account of the physics behind exchange bias remains elusive and new effects are constantly unraveled. In particular, a bimodal distribution of blocking temperatures $ (T_{\rm B})$ was recently discovered, associated with the bulk of the AFM layer and interfacial AFM/FM regions with spin‐glass‐like properties. Here we study exchange bias in MnIr (25, 60 Å)/CoFe (50 Å) bilayers annealed at high temperatures (623 K and 673 K). We observe, for all samples and annealing temperatures, the existence of a large exchange bias variation at low temperatures associated with interfacial disorder. Such variation is more significative in the thinnest samples, where it is found to be independent on annealing temperature. On the other hand, in the thickest samples the contribution of the low temperature distribution largely increases with annealing temperature, due to enhanced disorder arising from Mn diffusion. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Influence of magnetocrystalline anisotropy on the magnetization reversal mechanism in exchange bias Co/CoO bilayers

We investigated the reversal mechanism in a Co/CoO exchange bias bilayer with a pronounced magnetocrystalline anisotropy in the ferromagnet. The anisotropy, which is induced by the growth of a highly textured Co layer, imposes a distinct reversal mechanism along the magnetically easy and hard direction. It is shown that exchange bias can be induced along both directions, despite the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The interplay between the magnetocrystalline anisotropy and exchange bias induces a different reversal mechanism for the subsequent reversals in the two crystallographic directions. Along the hard axis, the magnetization reverses according to the reversal mechanism observed before in polycrystalline exchange bias bilayers, i.e. domain wall nucleation and motion for the first reversal and coherent rotation for the subsequent ones. Along the easy axis, domain wall motion remains the dominant reversal mechanism and magnetization rotation has only a minor contribution.     

Rotational magnetization processes in exchange biased Ni81Fe19/Fe50Mn50 bilayers

The rotational magnetization process of an exchange coupled Ni₈₁Fe₁₉(10 nm)/Fe₅₀Mn₅₀(10 nm) bilayer was studied by Kerr microscopy. The domain processes in rotating magnetic fields near the exchange bias field H_eb are very sensitive to local variations of coupling strength and direction. A characteristic domain splitting was found that shows a remarkably different behavior for weaker and stronger coupled areas. While the magnetization in weaker coupled areas follows the rotating field for H≈H_eb, the stronger coupled areas switch back spring-like. As a result high-angle walls are formed between both areas causing rotational hysteresis.     

Double shifted magnetization curves in magnetic bilayers

Ultrathin ferromagnetic biaxial films exhibit uniaxial anisotropy induced by underlayer and double shifted magnetization curves. Two possible origins of the double shifted curves are identified from experimental data, namely, the step-induced anisotropy and the exchange-coupled induced interfacial anisotropy. Micromagnetic study of modified astroids with starlike shapes indicates that a large uniaxial anisotropy induced by the interface plays a key role in the formation of double shifted magnetization waves. An additional bias field along the easy axis may enhance the shifted field. The present research status, both experimental and theoretical, is briefly discussed.     

All-optical probe of coherent spin waves

A novel, all-optical method to excite and detect spin waves in magnetic materials is presented. By exploiting the temperature dependence of the magnetic anisotropy, an ultrashort laser pulse is efficiently converted in a picosecond "anisotropy field" pulse that triggers a coherent precession of the magnetization. Recording the temporal evolution of the precessing spins by a time-delayed probe-pulse provides a quantitative method to study locally the magnetic anisotropy, as well as switching and damping phenomena in micromagnetic structures. Applications to nickel and permalloy ( Ni80Fe20) films are discussed, particularly showing the possibility to explore standing spin waves in thin films.     

Dynamic exchange coupling in magnetic bilayers

A long-range dynamic interaction between ferromagnetic films separated by normal-metal spacers is reported, which is communicated by nonequilibrium spin currents. It is measured by ferromagnetic resonance and explained by an adiabatic spin-pump theory. In such a resonance the spin-pump mechanism of spatially separated magnetic moments leads to an appreciable increase in the resonant linewidth when the resonance fields are well apart, and results in a dramatic linewidth narrowing when the resonant fields approach each other.     

In-plane magnetic pattern separation in NiFe/NiO and Co/NiO exchange biased bilayers investigated by magnetic force microscopy

Ion bombardment induced magnetic patterning (IBMP) was used to write in-plane magnetized micro and submicron patterns in exchange biased magnetic bilayers, where the magnetization directions of the adjacent patterns are antiparallel to each other in remanence. These magnetic patterns were investigated by non-contact magnetic force microscopy (MFM). It is shown that the recorded MFM images of the IBMP patterns in two exemplarily chosen standard layer systems (NiFe (4.8 nm)/NiO (68 nm) and Co (4.8 nm)/NiO (68 nm)) can be well described by a model within the point-dipole approximation for the tip magnetization. For 5 and 0.9 μm wide bar patterns the domain wall widths between adjacent magnetically patterned areas were determined to a≈1 μm. The minimum magnetically stable pattern width was estimated to be 0.7 μm in the standard system Co (4.8 nm)/NiO (68 nm).     

Ultrafast magnetization dynamics of Nickel

Received: 28 November 1998 / Revised version: 14 December 1998     

微磁动力学的新进展

本文介绍微磁动力学领域的一个最新进展,我们的研究发现在磁场驱动下且保持畴结构不变地沿着纳米磁线运动的磁畴壁,其运动源于能量耗散,磁畴壁运动速度正比于能量耗散率。与此同时,我们根据能量守恒原则,给出了磁畴壁速度的一个合理定义,该定义适用于任意的磁畴壁结构。在此定义下,即使磁畴壁没有做刚性运动,我们也能得到磁畴壁运动的瞬时速度和平均速度。我们的结果不仅能重复低磁场下的沃克（Walker）解,还能反映出当磁场高于沃克极限（Walker limit）时速度{磁场的依赖关系,该结果跟数值模拟和实验数据都符合得很好。我们根据微磁动力学研究的这一新进展,最终澄清了一个事实即“磁畴壁质量”这个概念是错误的。     

Modeling magnetization oscillations in ferromagnetic cobalt disks exposed to picosecond laser pulses

Magnetic reversal of a ferromagnetic single-domain nanoparticle in the form of a disk contained in a multilayer nanostructure irradiated by linearly and circularly polarized picosecond laser pulses is modeled. It is shown that heating of the disk by the laser light causes a change in its direction of magnetization. This is accompanied by oscillations in the magnetization that decay over 1–16 ns. The frequencies of these oscillations lie in the range of 0.5–26 GHz. The main reason for the magnetic reversal of the disk is a change in the magnetic anisotropy energy during heating. The laser pulses also create a spin-polarized current and an inverse Faraday magneto-optical field in the structure, which influence the duration, amplitude, and frequency of the magnetization oscillations.     

Anisotropic pinned/biased magnetization in SrRuO3/SrMnO3 superlattices

The exchange coupling at the interfaces of magnetic superlattices consisting of ferromagnetic SrRuO3 and antiferromagnetic SrMnO3 grown on (001) oriented SrTiO3 is studied with in-plane and out-of-plane orientations of the cooling magnetic field, with respect to the substrate plane. The magnetization of the in-plane, field cooled hysteresis loop is lower than the corresponding in-plane zero-field-cooled hysteresis loop. The out-of-plane field cooled hysteresis loop is shifted, from the origin, along the graphical magnetization axis. We attribute this irreversible rotation of the moment to the pinning/biasing of spin in the SrRuO3 layer in the vicinity of interfaces by the antiferromagnetic SrMnO3 layer.     

In-plane magnetic anisotropies in Ni/FeMn and Ni90Fe10/FeMn exchange biased bilayers

The in-plane magnetic anisotropy in Ni/FeMn and Ni₉₀Fe₁₀/FeMn exchange-biased bilayers prepared by co-evaporation under molecular beam epitaxy conditions is investigated employing longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). The exchange anisotropy was induced by a magnetic field cooling immediately after the deposition of the bilayers. Besides the induced term, the presence of an additional uniaxial anisotropy in the FM layers was detected both by MOKE and FMR, and the characteristic directions of these two anisotropy terms are not coincident. The interplay between the anisotropy contributions is discussed considering micromagnetic simulations and the in-plane resonance condition for different magnetic field orientation. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy were used to complement the characterization of the samples.     

Thin-film magnetization dynamics on the surface of a topological insulator

We theoretically study the magnetization dynamics of a thin ferromagnetic film exchange coupled with a surface of a strong three-dimensional topological insulator. We focus on the role of electronic zero modes imprinted by domain walls (DWs) or other topological textures in the magnetic film. Thermodynamically reciprocal hydrodynamic equations of motion are derived for the DW responding to electronic spin torques, on the one hand, and fictitious electromotive forces in the electronic chiral mode fomented by the DW, on the other. An experimental realization illustrating this physics is proposed based on a ferromagnetic strip, which cuts the topological insulator surface into two gapless regions. In the presence of a ferromagnetic DW, a chiral mode transverse to the magnetic strip acts as a dissipative interconnect, which is itself a dynamic object that controls (and, inversely, responds to) the magnetization dynamics.