Effect of noncrystallographic magnetic anisotropy on magnetization reversal in multilayer magnetic films

A study has been carried out of the magnetization of a layered system consisting of two exchange-coupled easy-axis ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer and having mutually perpendicular anisotropy axes. It is shown that the magnetization of such a system can undergo stepwise decrease with increasing magnetic field. The field dependence of the magnetization has a bifurcation point. The magnetization orientation can exhibit jumps in excess of 90° depending on the angle of magnetic-field orientation. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 660–664 (April 1999)