The magnetic structure of exchange-coupled antiferromagnetic (AF) layers in epitaxial $\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.7}\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{0.3}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_3$ (LSMO)/$\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.7}\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{0.3}\mathrm{Fe}{\mathrm{O}}_3$ (LSFO) superlattices grown on (111)-oriented $\mathrm{SrTi}{\mathrm{O}}_3$ substrates was studied using angle-dependent x-ray absorption spectroscopy utilizing linearly polarized x rays. We demonstrate the development of the measurement protocols needed to determine the orientation of the LSFO antiferromagnetic spin axis and how it responds to an applied magnetic field due to exchange interactions with an adjacent ferromagnetic layer. A small energy difference exists between two types of AF order: the majority of the AF moments cant out-of-the-plane of the film along the 110 or 100 directions depending on the LSFO layer thickness. In response to an applied magnetic field, these canted moments are aligned with a single 110 or 100 direction that maintains a nearly perpendicular orientation relative to the LSMO sublayer magnetization. The remaining AF moments lie within the $\left(111\right)$ plane and these in-plane moments can be reoriented to an arbitrary in-plane direction to lie parallel to the LSMO sublayer magnetization. These results demonstrate that the magnetic order of AF thin films and heterostructures is far more complex than in bulk LSFO and can be tuned with orientation, thickness, and applied magnetic field.

• Received 23 December 2016
• Revised 19 October 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.96.214411