Influence of exchange bias on spin torque ferromagnetic resonance for quantification of spin–orbit torque efficiency

Antiferromagnet(AFM)/ferromagnet(FM)heterostructure is a popular system for studying the spin–orbit torque(SOT)of AFMs.However,the interfacial exchange bias field induces that the magnetization in FM layer is noncollinear to the external magnetic field,namely the magnetic moment drag effect,which further influences the characteristic of SOT efficiency.In this work,we study the SOT efficiencies of IrMn/NiFe bilayers with strong interfacial exchange bias by using spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance(ST-FMR)method.A full analysis on the AFM/FM systems with exchange bias is performed,and the angular dependence of magnetization on external magnetic field is determined through the minimum rule of free energy.The ST-FMR results can be well fitted by this model.We obtained the relative accurate SOT efficiencyξ_(DL)=0.058 for the IrMn film.This work provides a useful method to analyze the angular dependence of ST-FMR results and facilitates the accurate measurement of SOT efficiency for the AFM/FM heterostructures with strong exchange bias.

Stacking-dependent exchange bias in two-dimensional ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic bilayers

A clear microscopic understanding of exchange bias is crucial for its application in magnetic recording, and further progress in this area is desired. Based on the results of our first-principles calculations and Monte Carlo simulations,we present a theoretical proposal for a stacking-dependent exchange bias in two-dimensional compensated van der Waals ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic bilayer heterostructures. The exchange bias effect emerges in stacking registries that accommodate inhomogeneous interlayer magnetic interactions between the ferromagnetic layer and different spin sublattices of the antiferromagnetic layer. Moreover, the on/off switching and polarity reversal of the exchange bias can be achieved by interlayer sliding, and the strength can be modulated using an external electric field. Our findings push the limits of exchange bias systems to extreme bilayer thickness in two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures, potentially stimulating new experimental investigations and applications.

Exchange Bias Effect in Phase Separated La0.33Pr0.34Ca0.33MnO3 Thin Films

Exchange bias effect is observed in the phase separated La0.33Pr0.34Ca0.33MnO3 thin films. High exchange bias field of about 1 kOe is achieved at 4 K. The exchange bias effect in La0.33Pr0.34Ca0.33MnO3 thin films might originate from the intrinsic phase separation of the La0.33Pr0.34Ca0.33MnO3 or surface effect. The dependence of exchange bias effect on temperature, cooling field, and thickness is also investigated. This work would open an avenue to the application in the magnetic memory devices based on the phase separated manganites.

The structure dependence of exchange bias in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic bilayers

The structure dependence of exchange bias in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic （FM/AF） bilayers has been investigated in detail by extending Slonczewski＇s ＇proximity magnetism＇ idea. Here three important parameters are discussed for FM/AF bilayers, i.e. interracial bilinear exchange coupling J1, interracial biquadratic （spin-flop） exchange coupling J2 and antiferromagnetic layer thickness tAF. The results show that both the occurrence and the variety of the exchange bias strongly depend on the above parameters. More importantly, the small spin-flop exchange coupling may result in an exchange bias without the interracial bilinear exchange coupling. However, in general, the spin-flop exchange coupling cannot result in the exchange bias. The corresponding critical parameters in which the exchange bias will occur or approach saturation are also presented.

STUDY OF THE EXCHANGE BIAS FIELD OF NiFe/FeMn BILAYERS

The exchange bias field of NiFe/FeMn films with Ta/ Cu buffer was proved tobe lower than that of the films with Ta buffer. The crystallographic texture, surface roughness andelements distribution were examined in these two sets of samples, and there is no apparentdifference for the texture and roughness. However, the segregation of Cu atoms above NiFe surface inthe multilayer of Ta/Cu/NiFe has been observed by using the angle-resolved X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy (XPS). The decrease of the exchange bias field for NiFe/FeMn films with Ta/ Cu bufferlayers is mainly caused by the Cu atoms segregation at the interface between NiFe and FeMn.

Room-temperature electric control of exchange bias effect in CoO1-δ/Co films using Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3O3 (110) substrates

Significant electric control of exchange bias effect in a simple CoO1-δ/Co system, grown on piezoelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3O3 (110) (PMN-PT) substrates, is achieved at room temperature. Obvious changes in both the coercivity field (HC) and the exchange bias field (HE), of 31% and 5%, respectively, have been observed when the electric field is applied to the substrate. While the change of coercivity is related to the enhanced uniaxial anisotropy in the ferromagnetic layer, the change of the exchange bias field can only originate from the spin reorientation in the antiferromagnetic CoO1-δ layer caused by the strain-induced magnetoelastic effect. A large HE/HC > 2, and HE~ 110 Oe at room temperature, as well as the low-energy fabrication of this system, make it a practical system for spintronic device applications.

Theoretical investigation of exchange bias

The exchange bias of bilayer magnetic films consisting of ferromagnetic （FM） and antiferromagnetic （AFM） layers in an uncompensated case is studied by use of the many-body Green＇s function method of quantum statistical theory. The effects of the layer thickness and temperature and the interracial coupling strength on the exchange bias HE are investigated. The dependence of the exchange bias HE on the FM layer thickness and temperature is qualitatively in agreement with experimental results. When temperature varies, both the coercivity HC and HE decrease with the temperature increasing. For each FM thickness, there exists a least AFM thickness in which the exchange bias occurs, which is called pinning thickness.

Theoretical Investigation of Exchange Bias in Compensated Cases

The exchange bias （EB） of the ferromagnetic （FM）/antiferromagnetic （AFM） bilayers in a compensated case is studied by use of the many-body Green＇s function method of quantum statistical theory. The so-called compensated case is that there is no net magnetization on the AFM side of the interface. Our conclusion is that the EB in this case is primarily from the asymmetry of the interracial exchange coupling strengths between the FM and the two sublattices of the AFM. The effects of the layer thickness, temperature and the interracial coupling strength oi2 the exchange bias HE are investigated. The dependence of HE on the FM layer thickness and temperature is qualitatively in agreement with experimental results. HE is nearly inversely proportional to FM thickness. When temperature varies, both HE and He decrease with temperature increasing. The anisotropy of the FM layer only slightly influence He, but does not influence HE.

Influence of magnetic field sweep rate on the hysteresis loops of Ni0.8Fe0.2/Fe0.5Mn0.5 exchange bias bilayer

The influence of the magnetic field sweep rate on the hysteresis loops of exchange bias Ni0.8Fe0.2/Fe0.5Mn0.5 bilayers has been investigated with a vibrating sample magnetometer. It was found that the sweep rate of 13.6 kA/4πms is high enough to bring about obvious changes in the hysteresis loops of the exchange bias bilayer. High sweep rate in the magnetization reversal stage enlarges the coercivity of the sample, while high sweep rate in the saturation state reduces the coercivity. The above phenomena were attributed to magnetic viscosity in the ferromagnetic layer enhanced by the interface exchange interaction and domain magnetization reversals assisted by thermal fluctuation in the antiferromagnetic layer respectively.

Exchange bias in ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayers

Since the exchange bias （EB） effect was discovered in the Co/CoO core-shell nanoparticles, it has been extensively studied in various ferromagnet （FM）/antiferromagnet （AFM） bilayers due to its crucial role in spintronics devices. In this article, we review the investigation of the EB in our research group. First, we outline basic features of the EB, including the effects of the constituent layer thickness, the microstructure and magnetization of the FM layers, and we also discuss asymmetric magnetization reversal process in wedged-FM/AFM bilayers. Secondly, we discuss the mechanisms of the positive EB and the perpendicular EB. Thirdly, we demonstrate the hysteretic behavior of the angular dependence of the EB and analyze the EB training effect. Finally, we discuss the roles of the rotatable anisotropy in the two phenomena.

Influence of Ga^+ ion irradiation on thermal relaxation of exchange bias field in exchange-coupled CoFe/IrMn bilayers

This paper reports that the CoFe/IrMn bilayers are deposited by magnetron sputtering on the surfaces of thermallyoxidized Si substrates. It investigates the thermal relaxations of both non-irradiated and Ca^＋ ion irradiated CoFe/IrMn bilayers by means of holding the bilayers in a negative saturation field. The results show that exchange bias field decreases with the increase of holding time period for both non-irradiated and Ca^＋ ion irradiated CoFe/IrMn bilayers. Exchange bias field is also found to be smaller upon irradiation at higher ion dose. This reduction of exchange bias field is attributed to the change of energy barrier induced by ion-radiation.

Unified nonequilibrium dynamical theory for exchange bias and training effects

We have investigated the exchange bias and training effect in the ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic （FM/AF） heterostructures using a unified Monte Carlo dynamical approach. The magnetization of the uncompensated AF layer is still open after the first field cycling is finished. Our simulated results show obvious shift of hysteresis loops （exchange bias） and cycling dependence of exchange bias （training effect） when the temperature is below 45 K. The exchange bias field decreases with decreasing cooling rate or increasing temperature and the number of the field cycling. Essentially, these two effects can be explained on the basis of the microscopical coexistence of both reversible and irreversible moment reversals of the AF domains. Our simulations are useful to understand the real magnetization dynamics of such magnetic heterostructures.

Flexible tuning microwave permeability spectrum in [ferromagnet/antiferromagnet]_n exchange-biased multilayer stack structure

NiFe/[IrMn/NiFe/IrMn] 5 /[NiFe/IrMn] 4 /NiFe structured exchange-biased multilayer films are designed and prepared by magnetron sputtering. The static and the microwave magnetic properties are systematically investigated. The results reveal that adding a partially pinned ferromagnetic layer can effectively broaden the ferromagnetic resonance linewidth toward the low frequency domain. Moreover, a wideband multi-peak permeability spectrum with a 3.1-GHz linewidth is obtained by overlapping the spectra of different partially pinned ferromagnetic layers and [antiferromagnet/ferromagnet/antiferromagnet] n stacks. Our results show that the linewidth of the sample can be feasibly tuned through controlling the proper exchange bias fields of different stacks. The designed multilayered thin films have potential application for a tunable wideband high frequency noise filter.

The synthesis and exchange bias effect of monodisperse NiO nanocrystals

Monodisperse NiO nanocrystals with an average particle size of 3 -h 0.4 nm are successfully synthesized by the thermal decomposition of Ni-oleylamine complex in an organic solvent under a continuous 02 flux. The crystalline structure and the morphology of the product are investigated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Magnetization and alternating-current （ac） susceptibility measurements indicate that the structure of the particles can be considered as consisting of an antiferromagnetieally ordered core and a spin- glass-like surface shell. In addition, both the exchange bias field and the vertical magnetization shift can be observed in this system at 10 K after field cooling. This observed exchange bias effect is explained in terms of the exchange interaction between the antiferromagnetie core and the spin-glass-like shell.

Multiple sign reversals of the exchange bias field in polycrystalline SmCr_(0.9)Fe_(0.1)O_3

We synthesize the perovskite compound Sm Cr0.9Fe0.1O3 by the sol–gel method and investigate its exchange bias properties through thermomagnetic and isothermal magnetization measurements. The sign reversals of the exchange bias field are observed at the magnetization compensation temperatures 29.6 K and 96.2 K. It is demonstrated that the occurrence of the exchange bias originates from the antiferromagnetic coupling between the Cr-rich and Fe–Cr regions, of which the net magnetization is temperature-dependent. These results imply that there are potential applications in single systems with sign reversals of both magnetization and exchange bias.

Magnetoresistance and exchange bias in high Mn content melt-spun Mn_(46)Ni_(42)Sn_(11)Sb_1 alloy ribbon

Highly textured Heusler alloy Mn_（46）Ni_（42）Sn_（11）Sb_1 ribbons were prepared by melt spinning. The annealed high Mn content Mn46Ni42Sn11Sb1 ribbon cross-section microstructure, crystal structure, martensitic transformation（MT）, and magnetoresistance（MR） properties were investigated. The MR in the annealed ribbon was assessed by the magnetic field direction perpendicular to the ribbon surface with the magnetic field up to 30 k Oe. The large negative value of 25% for MR was obtained at 244 K. The exchange bias（EB） effects of the as-spun and annealed ribbons were investigated. After annealing, the EB effects have been improved by about 25 Oe at the temperature of 50 K. The magnetizations have increased approximately by 10% more than the as-spun ribbon.

Influence of temperature on thermal relaxation of exchange bias field in CoFe/Cu/CoFe/IrMn spin valve

A multilayered spin valve film with a structure of Ta(5 nm)/Co_(75)Fe_(25)(5 nm)/Cu(2.5 nm)/Co_(75)Fe_(25)(5 nm)/Ir_(20)Mn_(80)(12 nm)/Ta(8 nm)is prepared by the high-vacuum direct current(DC)magnetron sputtering.The effect of temperature on the spin valve structure and the magnetic properties are studied by x-ray diffraction(XRD),atomic force microscopy(AFM),and vibrating sample magnetometry.The effect of temperature on the exchange bias field thermomagnetic properties of multilayered spin valve is studied by the residence time of samples in a reverse saturation field.The results show that as the temperature increases,the IrMn(111)texture weakens,surface/interface roughness increases,and the exchange bias field decreases.Below 200℃,the exchange bias field decreases with the residence time increasing,and at the beginning of the negative saturation field,the exchange bias field Hex decreases first quickly and then slowly gradually.When the temperature is greater than 200℃,the exchange bias field is unchanged with the residence time increasing.

Multiferroic properties and exchange bias in Bi_(1-x)Sr_xFeO_3(x=0–0.6) ceramics

Multiferroic properties and exchange bias （EB） in Bi1-xSrxFeO3 （x = 0-0.6） ceramics synthesized by a modified Pechini method are investigated. Sr concentration dependence of structure distorting, ferroelectric properties, and dielectric properties were studied at room temperature. Appropriate Sr doping （x = 0.05-0.2） has been found to decrease the conductivity, enhance ferroelectric properties and give rise to high dielectric constant. Compared with antiferromagnetic BiFeO3 compound, BSFO-x （O≤x ≤0.4） ceramics show weak ferromagnetism at room temperature, and their exchange bias field and vertical magnetization shift are observed and exhibit a strong dependence on the content of Sr. This observed EB effect which keeps stable in BSFO ceramics at 10 K tend to vanish at room temperature with Sr concentration over 0.4.

Types of the jump phenomenon in the angular dependence of the noncollinear exchange bias

Based on the principle of minimal energy and the coherent rotation model, two types of the jump phenomena, complete and incomplete jump phenomenon, are proved to exist in the angular dependence of the exchange bias with noncollinear unidirectional and uniaxial anisotropies. It is found that the transition between complete and incomplete jump phenomena occurs on condition that the exchange-coupling constant exceeds a critical value. Additionally, two different modes of the magnetization rotation, the whole-plane rotation, and the half-plane rotation are present in the magnetization reversal process, and they are dependent on the direction of the external field. Furthermore, the equations of the critical angle, at which orientation the exchange bias field reaches a maximum value and the coercivity disappears, are also derived in this paper. The numerical calculations in this paper are consistent with the relevant experimental observations, indicating that our method to study the angular dependence of the exchange bias as well as the magnetization reversal behaviors is valid. Our discussion about the jump phenomenon, the critical angle, and the modes of the magnetization reversal can explain the observed differences in results between different experiments.

Thermal relaxation of exchange bias field in an exchange coupled CoFe/IrMn bilayer

This paper reports that a CoFe/IrMn bilayer was deposited by high vacuum magnetron sputtering on silicon wafer substrate; the thermal relaxation of the CoFe/IrMn bilayer is investigated by means of holding the film in a negative saturation field at various temperatures. The exchange bias decreases with increasing period of time while holding the film in a negative saturation field at a given temperature. Increasing the temperature accelerates the decrease of exchange field. The results can be explained by the quantitative model of the nucleation and growth of antiferromagnetic domains suggested by Xi H Wet al. [2007 Phys. Rev. B 75 014434], and it is believed that two energy barriers exist in the investigated temperature range.