The role of weak interlayer coupling in the spin-reorientation of perpendicular ultrathin Co-Fe-B/MgO-based heterostructures
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg (Germany)
- I. Physikalisches Institut, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen (Germany)
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstraße 1, 47048 Duisburg (Germany)
- Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung, IFW Dresden, 01171 Dresden (Germany)
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, PGI-6, 52425 Jülich (Germany)
Ultrathin magnetic tunneling structures implicate fundamental interlayer exchange coupling between magnetic layers. Here, we describe its important role in the spin-reorientation transition of weakly coupled perpendicular ultrathin Ta/Co-Fe-B/MgO/Co-Fe-B/Ta heterostructures. Near the spin-reorientation, the domain structure is quite sensitive to weak interlayer exchange coupling. Antiferromagnetic coupling stabilizes homogeneous perpendicular magnetization at the remanence, whereas ferromagnetic coupling favors in-/out-of-plane stripe domains. Close to the spin-reorientation transition, even the subtle changes of interlayer exchange coupling can lead to reversible switching between stable in- and out-of-plane states. Our results suggest that this multi-stability caused by the interplay of perpendicular anisotropy and weak interlayer coupling can be utilized in perpendicular spin torque devices operating under reduced spin currents.
- OSTI ID:
- 22398823
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 106; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Room-temperature perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of MgO/Fe/MgO ultrathin films
Spin reorientation transition of Fe Films in magnetically coupled Fe/Cu/Ni/Cu(001)