Title :
Domain and domain wall observations in sputtered exchange-biased wedges
Author :
Schäfer, Rudolf ; Hubert, Alex ; Parkin, S.S.P.
Author_Institution :
Inst. fuer Werkstoffwiss., Erlangen-Nurnberg Univ., Germany
fDate :
11/1/1993 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Sputtered exchange-coupled sandwich systems with FeMn biasing underlayer, NiFe and NiCo ferromagnetic layers, and wedge-shaped Ru interlayers are investigated by Kerr microscopy. Domain analysis confirms the basic oscillatory behavior between ferro- and antiferromagnetic exchange coupling as a function of the nonmagnetic interlayer thickness. High resolution observation reveals many 360° domain walls, especially in zones of weak coupling. These 360° walls act as nucleation sites in a strongly hysteretic magnetization process and may form a problem in sensor applications
Keywords :
Kerr magneto-optical effect; cobalt alloys; exchange interactions (electron); ferromagnetic properties of substances; iron alloys; magnetic domain walls; magnetic domains; magnetic multilayers; manganese alloys; nickel alloys; ruthenium; sputtered coatings; FeMn biasing underlayer; Kerr microscopy; NiCo-Ru-NiFe-MnFe; NiFe-Ru-NiFe-MnFe; Ru interlayers; antiferromagnetic exchange coupling; domain analysis; domain wall observations; exchange-coupled sandwich systems; ferromagnetic exchange coupling; magnetic multilayers; nonmagnetic interlayer thickness; nucleation sites; sputtered exchange-biased wedges; strongly hysteretic magnetization process; Antiferromagnetic materials; Couplings; Hysteresis; Magnetic analysis; Magnetic domains; Magnetic multilayers; Magnetization processes; Microscopy; Saturation magnetization; Soft magnetic materials;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
