Properties of ferromagnetic film hysteresis, on the surface of a hard-magnetic antiferromagnet, with a domain structure

Abstract

This is a theoretical investigation of the exchange bias phenomenon, and the properties of a thin magnetic film's magnetization hysteresis loop, on the rough surface of a hard-magnetic antiferromagnet. An interface model with a periodic structure of atomic steps is presented. These atomic steps are associated with a spatially inhomogeneous distribution of the ferromagnetic film magnetization, akin to a system of domain walls. This structure leads to a complicated external field dependence of magnetization: the hysteresis curve can assume an asymmetrical shape and "fall apart" into two hysteresis loops, divided by a "horizontal plateau," or an area with constant field-independent magnetization. Such field dependence behavior has been recently observed experimentally in different ferro/antiferromagnet systems. The field dependence of magnetization has been obtained analytically using the long-wave approximation for various characteristics of ferromagnetic film (its thickness, values of exchange interaction, and magnetic anisotropy), and the interface (the period of the inhomogeneous structure, and exchange interaction through the interface). The analytical results are confirmed by numerical calculations for the corresponding discrete model with a more complex interface structure.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4901921
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > Aston Institute of Photonics Technology (AIPT)
Additional Information: © 2014 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. The following article appeared in Low Temperature Physics 40, 990 (2014) and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4901921
Uncontrolled Keywords: Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
Publication ISSN: 1090-6517
Last Modified: 05 Feb 2024 08:35
Date Deposited: 18 Feb 2019 13:23
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Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2014-11-01
Authors: Kovalev, A. S.
Pankratova, M. L. (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-5974-6160)

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