Asymmetry of domain nucleation and enhanced coercivity in exchange-biased epitaxial NiO/NiFe bilayers

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1998 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.57.R8111· OSTI ID:627558

Nikitenko, V I; Gornakov, V S; Dedukh, L M; Kabanov, Y P; Khapikov, A F ^[1]; Shapiro, A J; Shull, R D ^[2]; Chaiken, A; Michel, R P ^[3]

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1. Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432Chernogolovka, Moscow District (Russia)
2. Metallurgy Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899 (United States)
3. Materials Science and Technology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California94551 (United States)

Magnetization reversal processes in epitaxial NiO/NiFe bilayers were studied using the magneto-optic indicator film technique. The influence of dislocations on these processes was determined. Remagnetization parallel to the unidirectional anisotropy axis proceeds by domain nucleation and growth, with nucleation center activity being asymmetric with respect to the applied field sign. Magnetization reversal in the hard axis direction occurs by incoherent rotation. The enhanced coercivity and asymmetric nucleation can be explained by taking into account domain wall behavior in the {ital antiferromagnetic} layer. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 627558
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Vol. 57, Issue 14; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1998
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
NICKEL OXIDES
NUCLEATION
COERCIVE FORCE
MAGNETIZATION
ANTIFERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
ANISOTROPY
DOMAIN STRUCTURE
DISLOCATIONS