Emergence of noncollinear anisotropies from interfacial magnetic frustration in exchange-bias systems.

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Phys. Rev. B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.80.014415· OSTI ID:966347

Jimenez, E; Camarero, J; Sort, J; Nogues, J; Mikuszeit, N; Garcia-Martin, J M; Hoffmann, A; Dieny, B; Miranda, R; SPINTEC,

Exchange bias, referred to the interaction between a ferromagnet (FM) and an antiferromagnet (AFM), is a fundamental interfacial magnetic phenomenon, which is key to current and future applications. The effect was discovered half a century ago, and it is well established that the spin structures at the FM/AFM interface play an essential role. However, currently, ad hoc phenomenological anisotropies are often postulated without microscopic justification or sufficient experimental evidence to address magnetization-reversal behavior in exchange-bias systems. We advance toward a detailed microscopic understanding of the magnetic anisotropies in exchange-bias FM/AFM systems by showing that symmetry-breaking anisotropies leave a distinct fingerprint in the asymmetry of the magnetization reversal and we demonstrate how these emerging anisotropies are correlated with the intrinsic anisotropy. Angular and vectorial resolved Kerr hysteresis loops from FM/AFM bilayers with varying degree of ferromagnetic anisotropy reveal a noncollinear anisotropy, which becomes important for ferromagnets with vanishing intrinsic anisotropy. Numerical simulations show that this anisotropy naturally arises from the inevitable spin frustration at an atomically rough FM/AFM interface. As a consequence, we show in detail how the differences observed for different materials during magnetization reversal can be understood in general terms as originating from the interplay between interfacial frustration and intrinsic anisotropies. This understanding will certainly open additional avenues to tailor future advanced magnetic materials.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC; Spanish Ministry of Education and Science; MEC; Communida de Madrid
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 966347
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-65423
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B, Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B Journal Issue: 2009 Vol. 80; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANISOTROPY
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
ASYMMETRY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
FERROMAGNETISM
HYSTERESIS
INTERFACES
MAGNETIC MATERIALS
MAGNETIZATION
SPIN