Journal of Magnetics

The Korean Magnetics Society (한국자기학회)
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Magnetization Reversal of Exchange-biased Bilayers and Trilayers Probed using Front and Back LT-MOKE

  • Kim, Ki-Yeon (Neutron Science Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) ;
  • Kim, Ji-Wan (Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) ;
  • Choi, Hyeok-Cheol (Department of Physics, Inha University) ;
  • You, Chun-Yeol (Department of Physics, Inha University) ;
  • Shin, Sung-Chul (Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) ;
  • Lee, Jeong-Soo (Neutron Science Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
  • Published : 2009.03.31
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Abstract

Magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) magnetometry was used to investigate magnetization reversal dynamics in 30-nm NiFe/15-nm FeMn, 15-nm FeMn/30-nm CoFe bilayers, and 30-nm NiFe/(2,10)-nm FeMn/30-nm CoFe trilayers. The in-plane magnetization components of each ferromagnetic layer, both parallel and perpendicular to the applied field, were separately determined by measuring the longitudinal and transverse MOKE hysteresis loops from both the front and back sides of the film for an oblique incident s-polarized beam. The magnetization of the FeMn/CoFe bilayer was reversed abruptly and symmetrically through nucleation and domain wall propagation, while that of the NiFe/FeMn bilayer was reversed asymmetrically with a dominant rotation. In the NiFe/FeMn/CoFe trilayers, the magnetic reversal of the two ferromagnetic layers proceeded via nucleation and domain wall propagation for 2-nm FeMn, but via asymmetric rotation for 10-nm FeMn. The exchange-biased ferromagnetic layers showed the magnetization reversal along the same path in the film plane for the decreasing and increasing field branches from transverse MOKE hysteresis loops, which can be qualitatively explained by the theoretical model of the exchange-biased ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic systems.

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