Asymmetric Reversal in Exchange Bias: experiment and micromagnetic simulations

ORAL

Abstract

Asymmetric reversal process in several exchange biased systems is a yet unexplained problem. Recent experimental results on epitaxial FeF$_{2}$/Ni bilayers reveal strongly asymmetrical hysteresis loops. A systematic micromagnetic study based on the assumption of pinned AF moments at the ferromagnetic interface is performed. The simulation result suggests a winding and unwinding of \textit{local} incomplete domain walls in the ferromagnet parallel to the ferro-/antiferromagnet interface at only one side of the saturation is responsible for the asymmetry observed. The simulations are in very good agreement with the experiment results.

*Funding by US-DOE is acknowledged, and ZPL is benefited from Cal-(IT)2 fellowship.

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Authors

  • Zhi-Pan Li

    • Physics Department, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA

  • Oleg Petracic

    • Angewandte Physik, Universit\"at Duisburg-Essen, 47048 Duisburg, Germany

  • Ivan K. Schuller

    • Physics Department, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla CA 92093
    • Physics Department, UC San Diego
    • Physics Department, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA