Regensburg 2004 – scientific programme

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MA: Magnetismus

MA 13: Poster:Schichten(1-23),Spinabh.Trsp(24-41),Exch.Bias(42-56),Spindyn.(57-67),Mikromag.(68-76),Partikel(77-90),Spinelektr.(91-97),Elektr.Theo.(98-99),Mikromag+PhasÜ+Aniso.(100-105),Magn.Mat.(106-118),Messmethod.(119-121),Obflm.+Abbverf.(122-123)

MA 13.53: Poster

Tuesday, March 9, 2004, 15:00–19:00, Bereich A

Magnetic domain investigation in Co/Cu/FeMn trilayers — •W. Kuch, J. Wang, F. Offi, L. I. Chelaru, M. Kotsugi, and J. Kirschner — Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle

The as-grown magnetic domain patterns of epitaxial single-crystalline Co/Cu/FeMn trilayers were investigated by magnetic circular dichroism domain imaging using photoelectron emission microscopy (XMCD-PEEM). Small domains were observed when Co was deposited directly on top of antiferromagnetic FeMn films. Inserting a Cu spacer layer between the ferromagnetic Co layer and the antiferromagnetic FeMn layer, the as-grown domain size increases continuously with increasing Cu layer thickness, which is attributed to the decrease of the interlayer exchange coupling between Co and FeMn layers. The average as-grown domain size of the Co layer on top of a wedge-shaped Cu spacer layer as a function of Cu thickness is analyzed in terms of interface coupling between Co and FeMn across the Cu layer, using a model of random fields at the surface of the antiferromagnetic FeMn layer [1]. The apparent coupling energy estimated from that model was found to depend also on Co thickness. This is ascribed to kinetic barriers hindering the formation of larger domains from smaller domains. No evidence for an oscillatory behavior of the exchange coupling was found.

[1] S. Zhang et al., J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 198–199, 468 (1999).