Dresden 2006 – scientific programme

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MA: Magnetismus

MA 29: Magnetic Thin Films IV

MA 29.7: Talk

Thursday, March 30, 2006, 16:45–17:00, HSZ 03

Synthetic metamagnetism: reorientation effects and multidomain states in perpendicular antiferromagnetic superlattices — •U.K. Rößler and A.N. Bogdanov — IFW Dresden, P.O. Box 270116, D-01171 Dresden, Germany

Recently synthesized antiferromagnetically coupled multilayers with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, like [CoPt]/Ru, [CoPt]/NiO, Co/Ir, or Fe/Au, represent a new class of magnetic materials. These synthetic metamagnets are characterized by a cascade of metamagnetic phase transitions, extended regions of metastable states and complex multidomain structures [1,2]. Within a phenomenological theory, we have classified and analyzed the wide variability of magnetic field-driven reorientation transitions and accompanying multidomain states in these synthetic metamagnets. In contrast to other bulk and nanomagnetic systems, the magnetic states are determined by a close competition between antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange and dipolar couplings. The theory of this phenomenon allows to explain the unusual switching processes and specific transformation of the domain patterns observed in these synthetic metamagnets.

[1] O. Hellwig et al., Nature Mater. 2 (2003) 112. [2] U. K. Rößler, A. N. Bogdanov, JMMM 269 (2004) L287.