Exchange coupling in hybrid anisotropy magnetic multilayers quantified by vector magnetometry

Journal Article · Thu May 07 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4917336· OSTI ID:22409965

Miles, J. J.; Thomson, T. ^[1]; Anh Nguyen, T. N. ^[2]; Fang, Y.; Dumas, R. K. ^[3]; Åkerman, J. ^[2]

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1. School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL (United Kingdom)
2. Materials Physics, School of ICT, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Electrum 229, 164 40 Kista (Sweden)
3. Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, 412 96 Gothenburg (Sweden)

Hybrid anisotropy thin film heterostructures, where layers with perpendicular and in-plane anisotropy are separated by a thin spacer, are novel materials for zero/low field spin torque oscillators and bit patterned media. Here, we report on magnetization reversal and exchange coupling in a archetypal Co/Pd (perpendicular)-NiFe (in-plane) hybrid anisotropy system studied using vector vibrating sample magnetometry. This technique allows us to quantify the magnetization reversal in each individual magnetic layer, and measure of the interlayer exchange as a function of non-magnetic spacer thickness. At large (>1 nm) spacer thicknesses Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida-like exchange dominates, with orange-peel coupling providing a significant contribution only for sub-nm spacer thickness.

• OSTI ID: 22409965
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 117; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANISOTROPY
COBALT
COUPLING
HETEROJUNCTIONS
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
IRON
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELD REVERSAL
MAGNETIZATION
NICKEL
OSCILLATORS
PALLADIUM
SPACERS
SPIN
THICKNESS
THIN FILMS
TORQUE
VECTORS