Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Magnetization reversal studies of continuous and patterned exchange biased NiFe/FeMn thin films

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this article we present a detailed investigation of the structural and magnetic properties of exchange biased NiFe (ferromagnet)/FeMn (antiferromagnet) thin films. The influence of the shape anisotropy on exchange bias and the magnetization reversal mechanism in a sample with patterned lines is compared with a continuous two-dimensional reference sample. Polarized neutron reflectivity (PNR) is employed to study the magnetization reversal by analyzing the spin-flip and non-spin-flip reflectivities. PNR measurements show that the magnetization reversal in the reference two-dimensional film and patterned lines is by domain wall motion rather than coherent rotation of magnetization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D.A. Thompson, J.S. Best, IBM J. Res. Dev. 44, 311 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. E. Grochowski, R.F. Hoyt, IEEE Trans. Magn. 32, 1850 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. E. Grochowski, D.A. Thompson, IEEE Trans. Magn. 30, 3797 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. L.D. Stevens, IBM J. Res. Dev. 25, 663 (1981)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. W.H. Meiklejohn, C.P. Bean, Phys. Rev. 102, 1413 (1956)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. W.H. Meiklejohn, C.P. Bean, Phys. Rev. 105, 904 (1957)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. J. Nogués, I.K. Schuller, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 192, 203 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. J.G. Zhu, Y.F. Zheng, G.A. Prinz, J. Appl. Phys. 87, 6668 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. J.C.S. Kools, IEEE Trans. Magn. 32, 3165 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. B. Dieny, V.S. Speriosu, S.S.P. Parkin, B.A. Gurney, D.R. Wilhoit, D. Mauri, Phys. Rev. B 43, 1297 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. C.H. Tsang, R.E. Fontana Jr., T. Lin, D.E. Heim, B.A. Gurney, M.L. Williams, IBM J. Res. Dev. 42, 103 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. J. de Boeck, G. Borghs, Phys. World 12(4), 27 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  13. S.S.P. Parkin, K.P. Roche, M.G. Samant, P.M. Rice, R.B. Beyers, R.E. Scheuerlein, E.J. O’Sullivan, S.L. Brown, J. Bucchigano, D.W. Abraham, Y. Lu, M. Rooks, P.L. Trouilloud, R.A. Wanner, W.J. Gallagher, J. Appl. Phys. 85, 5828 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. H.S. Cho, C. Hou, M. Sun, H. Fujiwara, J. Appl. Phys. 85, 5160 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. H.S. Cho, H. Fujiwara, IEEE Trans. Magn. 35, 3868 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. X. Lin, J.-G. Zhu, IEEE Trans. Magn. 33, 3987 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. J.-G. Zhu, Y. Zheng, X. Lin, J. Appl. Phys. 81, 4336 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. M.F. Toney, C. Tsang, J. Kent Howard, J. Appl. Phys. 70, 6227 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. O. Allegranza, M.-M. Chen, J. Appl. Phys. 73, 6218 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Z.-Q. Lu, W.-Y. Lai, C.-L. Chai, Thin Solid Films 375, 224 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. C. Liu, C. Yu, H. Jian, L. Shen, C. Alexander, G.J. Mankey, J. Appl. Phys. 87, 6644 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Y.S. Choi, A.K. Petford-Long, R.C.C. Ward, M.R. Wells, Thin Solid Films 413, 41 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Y.S. Choi, A.K. Petford-Long, R.C.C. Ward, IEEE Trans. Magn. 38, 2785 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. S.H. Chung, A. Hoffmann, M. Grimsditch, Phys. Rev. B 71, 214430 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. V.S. Gornakov, Yu.P. Kabanov, O.A. Tikhomirov, V.I. Nikitenko, S.V. Urazhdin, F.Y. Yang, C.L. Chien, A.J. Shapiro, R.D. Shull, Phys. Rev. B 73, 184428 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. V.I. Nikitenko, V.S. Gornakov, A.J. Shapiro, R.D. Shull, K. Liu, S.M. Zhou, C.L. Chien, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 765 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. C.L. Chien, V.S. Gornakov, V.I. Nikitenko, A.J. Shapiro, R.D. Shull, Phys. Rev. B 68, 014418 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Z.B. Guo, K.B. Li, G.C. Han, Z.Y. Liu, P. Luo, Y.H. Wu, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 251, 323 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. http://www.panalytical.com/index.cfm?pid=368 (2012)

  30. J.B. Kortright, J. Appl. Phys. 70, 3620 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. S.K. Sinha, E.B. Sirota, S. Garoff, H.B. Stanley, Phys. Rev. B 38, 2297 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. H. Zabel, K. Theis-Bröhl, J. Phys. Condens. Matter 15, S505 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. M.R. Fitzsimmons, S.D. Bader, J.A. Borchers, G.P. Felcher, J.K. Furdyna, A. Hoffmann, J.B. Kortright, I.K. Schuller, T.C. Schulthess, S.K. Sinha, M.F. Toney, D. Weller, S. Wolf, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 271, 103 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. G.P. Felcher, Physica B 192, 137 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. G.P. Felcher, Physica B 267–268, 154 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. J.F. Ankner, G.P. Felcher, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 200, 741 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. http://www.isis.rl.ac.uk/archive/LargeScale/crisp/crisp.htm (2012)

  38. C.F. Majkrzak, Physica B 221, 342 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. K. Temst, M.J. Van Bael, V.V. Moshchalkov, Y. Bruynseraede, J. Appl. Phys. 87, 4216 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. K. Temst, M.J. Van Bael, J. Swerts, H. Loosvelt, E. Popova, D. Buntinx, J. Bekaert, C. Van Haesendonck, Y. Bruynseraede, R. Jonckheere, H. Fritzsche, Superlattices Microstruct. 34, 87 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Mr. B. Opperdoes for his help in MBE growth. This work has been supported by the FWO and GOA/09/006 research programs. We acknowledge an STFC grant for access to the ISIS experimental facility.

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. Mohanty

    Present address: Institute for Optics and Atomic Physics, Technical University Berlin, Hardenbergstr. 36, 10623, Berlin, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Solid-State Physics and Magnetism, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, 3001, Leuven, Belgium

    J. Mohanty, S. Vandezande, S. Brems, M. J. Van Bael & C. Van Haesendonck

  2. Instituut voor Kern-en Stralingsfysica, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, 3001, Leuven, Belgium

    K. Temst

  3. ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0QX, UK

    T. Charlton, S. Langridge & R. M. Dalgliesh

Authors
  1. J. Mohanty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Vandezande
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Brems
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. J. Van Bael
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. T. Charlton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. Langridge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. R. M. Dalgliesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. K. Temst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. C. Van Haesendonck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Mohanty.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mohanty, J., Vandezande, S., Brems, S. et al. Magnetization reversal studies of continuous and patterned exchange biased NiFe/FeMn thin films. Appl. Phys. A 109, 181–187 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7031-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7031-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation