Switching of the exchange bias in Fe/Cr(211) double-superlattice structures
- Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)
The reversal of the direction of the exchange bias in a ''double-superlattice'' system which consists of an Fe/Cr antiferromagnetic (AF) superlattice which is ferromagnetically coupled with an Fe/Cr ferromagnetic (F) superlattice through a Cr spacer layer, is observed. Magnetometry and polarized neutron reflectometry show that a switch in the bias direction occurs at a field ({approx}447 Oe) well below the field (14 kOe) necessary to saturate the AF superlattice and well below the field (2 kOe) where the AF superlattice initiates a spin-flop transition. The switching of the exchange bias cannot be explained in terms of a model of uniform rotation, but rather by breakdown into domains and reversal of the AF layers. The transparency of magnetic behavior of the double superlattice may be useful in understanding the behavior of traditional exchange bias systems. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.
- OSTI ID:
- 20217671
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 77; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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