XMCD studies of epitaxially grown Mn{sub}(1-x)Pt{sub}x / Ferromagnet exchange bilayers with (001) orientation

摘要

Exchange biasing at ferromagnet (F) / antiferromagnet (AF) interface plays an important role in spin-valve magnetic heads and MRAMs. Despite the technological importance of exchange bias, its detailed mechanism is still unclear. We have investigated the exchange anisotropics of (001) oriented Mn{sub}(1-x)Pt{sub}x / NiFe epitaxial bilayers, and found that the bilayers exhibit both strong 1- and 4-fold anisotropies[1, 2], which is hard to be understood by a simple single spin model. Thus, we have carried out XMCD (X-ray magnetic circular dichroism) measurements to insight the magnetism of Mn and Fe or Co at the interface of Ni{sub}80Fe{sub}20 / Mn{sub}(1-x)Pt{sub}x and Co{sub}90Fe{sub}10 / Mn{sub}(1-x)Pt{sub}x, since XMCD measurements allow element specific investigation.