4 research outputs found
In-plane magnetic reorientation in coupled ferro- and antiferromagnetic thin films
By studying coupled ferro- (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) thin film
systems, we obtain an in-plane magnetic reorientation as a function of
temperature and FM film thickness. The interlayer exchange coupling causes a
uniaxial anisotropy, which may compete with the intrinsic anisotropy of the FM
film. Depending on the latter the total in-plane anisotropy of the FM film is
either enhanced or reduced. Eventually a change of sign occurs, resulting in an
in-plane magnetic reorientation between a collinear and an orthogonal magnetic
arrangement of the two subsystems. A canted magnetic arrangement may occur,
mediating between these two extremes. By measuring the anisotropy below and
above the N\'eel temperature the interlayer exchange coupling can be
determined. The calculations have been performed with a Heisenberg-like
Hamiltonian by application of a two-spin mean-field theory.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure