Direct measurement of depth-dependent Fe spin structure during magnetization reversal in Fe/MnF2 exchange-coupled bilayers

W. A. A. Macedo, B. Sahoo, J. Eisenmenger, M. D. Martins, W. Keune, V. Kuncser, R. Röhlsberger, O. Leupold, R. Rüffer, J. Nogués, Kai Liu, K. Schlage, and Ivan K. Schuller
Phys. Rev. B 78, 224401 – Published 3 December 2008

Abstract

We measured directly the depth-dependent Fe spin rotation upon magnetization reversal in exchange-coupled Fe/MnF2 bilayers using nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation from an F57e-probe layer buried at different depths within the Fe film. Our results show that the exchange-biased ferromagnetic layer develops a noncollinear spin structure along the film normal direction, reminiscent of a partial domain wall parallel to the Fe/MnF2 interface. This is contrary to most theoretical models of exchange bias which assume a collinear spin structure in the ferromagnetic layer.

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  • Received 10 July 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.78.224401

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

W. A. A. Macedo1, B. Sahoo2,*, J. Eisenmenger3, M. D. Martins1, W. Keune2,4, V. Kuncser5, R. Röhlsberger6, O. Leupold7,†, R. Rüffer7, J. Nogués8, Kai Liu9, K. Schlage10, and Ivan K. Schuller11

  • 1Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
  • 2Universität Duisburg-Essen, 47048 Duisburg, Germany
  • 3Universität Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
  • 4Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, 06120 Halle, Germany
  • 5National Institute of Materials Physics, 77125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania
  • 6Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22067 Hamburg, Germany
  • 7European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 38043 Grenoble Cedex, France
  • 8ICREA and Institut Català de Nanotecnologia, Campus of the University Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain
  • 9University of California–Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
  • 10Universität Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany
  • 11University of California–San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA

  • *Present address: Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
  • Present address: Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22067 Hamburg, Germany.

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Issue

Vol. 78, Iss. 22 — 1 December 2008

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