Isothermal switching of perpendicular exchange bias by pulsed high magnetic field

Isothermal switching of a perpendicular exchange bias by a strong pulsed magnetic field has been investigated using a Pt/Co/α-Cr₂O₃ thin film system. The switching of the perpendicular exchange bias is accompanied by the spin reversal of interfacial uncompensated antiferromagnetic Cr spins. We have also demonstrated that the switching of the exchange bias is reversible by changing the pulsed magnetic field direction. The mechanism of the demonstrated switching is discussed from the viewpoint of the spin flop transition of the α-Cr₂O₃ layer.Yu Shiratsuchi, Kohei Wakatsu, Tetsuya Nakamura, Hiroto Oikawa, Satoru Maenou, Yasuo Narumi, Kou Tazoe, Chiharu Mitsumata, Toyohiko Kinoshita, Hiroyuki Nojiri, and Ryoichi Nakatani, Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 262413 (2012); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4731643