Title :
Details of the Magnetization Reversal in Patterned Exchange-Biased and Unbiased Thin Films
Author :
Shull, Robert D. ; Kabanov, Yuri P. ; Chen, P.J. ; Dennis, Cindi L. ; Gornakov, Vladimir S. ; Nikitenko, Valerian I.
Author_Institution :
Nat. Inst. of Stand. & Technol., Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Abstract :
New features of the magnetization reversal of a patterned bilayer in the form of a square mesh consisting of 16 μm wide intersecting stripes of Ni79Fe21 (30 nm) exchange-coupled with IrMn (10 nm) on top were revealed via use of the advanced magneto-optical indicator film technique. A peculiar asymmetry of the remagnetization behavior was observed for the forward and backward branches of the hysteresis loop for fields parallel to the sample´s unidirectional anisotropy. Herein, we compare the magnetization reversal processes in the biased and nonbiased patterned ferromagnetic nano-layers.
Keywords :
exchange interactions (electron); ferromagnetic materials; interface magnetism; iridium alloys; iron alloys; magnetic anisotropy; magnetic hysteresis; magnetic thin films; magnetisation reversal; magneto-optical effects; manganese alloys; nanomagnetics; nanopatterning; nanostructured materials; nickel alloys; IrMn-Ni79Fe21; backward branches; ferromagnetic nanolayers; forward branches; hysteresis loop; magnetization reversal; magneto-optical indicator film; magnetron sputtering; patterned bilayer; patterned exchange-biased thin films; remagnetization behavior; sample unidirectional anisotropy; size 16 mum; size 30 nm; square mesh; wide intersecting stripes; Frequency modulation; Magnetic domains; Magnetic hysteresis; Magnetostatics; Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; Saturation magnetization; Domain structure; exchange coupling; magnetization reversal; magnetostatic field;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TMAG.2014.2328979
