Title :
Stability of exchange bias and thermally activated processes
Author :
Stamps, R.L. ; Wee, Leonard
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys., Western Australia Univ., Nedlands, WA, Australia
fDate :
9/1/2000 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A theory for exchange bias in ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayers is discussed. The mechanism depends on partial wall formation in the antiferromagnet, and it is shown that stability depends on the existence of an easy plane anisotropy and a minimum value of exchange coupling between the ferromagnet and the antiferromagnet. The effect of thermal fluctuations is also examined in terms of thermally activated processes. Consequences for field rate dependence of bias and coercive fields is described
Keywords :
coercive force; exchange interactions (electron); interface magnetism; magnetic anisotropy; magnetic domain walls; coercive field; easy plane anisotropy; exchange bias; exchange coupling; ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayer; partial domain wall; stability; temperature dependence; thermal activation; thermal fluctuations; Anisotropic magnetoresistance; Antiferromagnetic materials; Displacement measurement; Equations; Fluctuations; Hysteresis; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetization; Temperature dependence; Thermal stability;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
