Magnetic reversal in a YFe_(2) dominated DyFe_(2)/YFe_(2) multilayer film

摘要

Magnetic reversal in a (110)-oriented DyFe_(2)(60 A)/YFe_(2)(240 A) X 15 multilayer film is investigated using magnetometry, micro-magnetic modeling, and element-specific soft x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. At temperatures between approx60 and 120K, the magnetic reversal involves a two-step process. It is shown that the reversal mechanism can be described as switching from an in-plane 001 reversed anti-ferromagnetic state, to an out-of-plane 100 transverse spring exchange state, and finally to an in-plane 001 magnetic exchange spring state.