Dresden 2009 – scientific programme

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MA: Fachverband Magnetismus

MA 8: Magnetic Coupling Phenomena / Exchange Bias

MA 8.2: Talk

Monday, March 23, 2009, 15:30–15:45, HSZ 401

Imaging of exchange bias in Co/FeMn bilayers on the nm length scale — •Florian Kronast, Joachim Schlichting, Florin Radu, Mishra Shrawan, and Hermann A. Dürr — Bessy, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Germany

We investigated the magnetic interface coupling in Co/FeMn bilayers by photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) in combination with magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). Using a special sample holder with integrated micro-magnetic yoke we could apply magnetic fields up to 25mT during imaging, without significant reduction of the spatial resolution.

We studied the domain structure in the ferromagnetic Co layer and the arrangement of magnetic moments at the interface of the antiferromagnet as a function of applied magnetic field. Analyzing the local hysteresis loop of each pixel in the recorded images we could map local variations of exchange bias and coercitivity in the ferromagentic Co layer. We can correlate these local variations of exchange bias and coercitivity with the arrangement of magnetic moments at the ferromagnet / antiferromagnet interface.