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Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 765 - 768 (2000)

Asymmetry in Elementary Events of Magnetization Reversal in a Ferromagnetic/Antiferromagnetic Bilayer

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V. I. Nikitenko1,2, V. S. Gornakov1,2, A. J. Shapiro1, R. D. Shull1, Kai Liu3, S. M. Zhou3, and C. L. Chien3
1Metallurgy Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899
2Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Russia 142432
3Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218

Received 19 August 1999

Real-time magneto-optical indicator film images reveal distinct asymmetry in the motion of a single domain wall in a wedged-NiFe/uniform-FeMn bilayer due to the nucleation and behavior of an exchange spring in the antiferromagnetic layer. Magnetization reversal from the ground state begins at the thick end of the wedge where the exchange anisotropy field (HE) is minimal and the magnetostatic field (HMS) is maximal, whereas reversal into the ground state begins from the thin end where HE is maximal and HMS is minimal.


©2000 The American Physical Society

URL: http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.765
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.765
PACS: 75.70.Cn, 75.30.Et, 75.50.Kj

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