Origin of the asymmetric magnetization reversal behavior in exchange-biased systems : competing anisotropies
Camarero, Julio (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada)
Sort Viñas, Jordi (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (França))
Hoffmann, Axel (Argonne National Laboratory. Materials Science Division)
Garcia Martín, José Miguel (Instituto de Microelectrónica de Madrid)
Dieny, B. (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (França))
Miranda, Rodolfo (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada)
Nogués, Josep (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)
American Physical Society

Date:	2005
Abstract:	The magnetization reversal in exchange-biased ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic (FM-AFM) bilayers is investigated. Different reversal pathways on each branch of the hysteresis loop, i. e. , asymmetry, are obtained both experimentally and theoretically when the magnetic field is applied at certain angles from the anisotropy direction. The range of angles and the magnitude of this asymmetry are determined by the ratio between the FM anisotropy and the interfacial FM-AFM exchange anisotropy. The occurrence of asymmetry is linked with the appearance of irreversibility, i. e. , finite coercivity, as well as with the maximum of exchange bias, increasing for larger anisotropy ratios. Our results indicate that asymmetric hysteresis loops are intrinsic to exchange-biased systems and the competition between anisotropies determines the asymmetric behavior of the magnetization reversal.
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; Versió publicada
Published in:	Physical review letters, Vol. 95, Issue 5 (July 2005) , p. 057204, ISSN 1079-7114

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.057204

4 p, 4.2 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Group of Smart Nanoengineered Materials, Nanomechanics and Nanomagnetism (Gnm3)
Articles > Published articles