Anomalous Switching Behavior of Antiparallel-Coupled CO Layers Separated by a Super-Thin Ru Spacer

Published

May 15, 2002

Author(s)

V S. Gornakov, Valerian I. Nikitenko, William F. Egelhoff Jr., Robert D. McMichael, Alexander J. Shapiro, Robert D. Shull

Abstract

The details of the magnetization reversal mechanisms upon field reversal in coupled ferromagnetic CO (2.5 nm)/Ru(0.5 nm)/Co (2.6 nm) trilayers deposited on obliquely sputtered Ta (10.6 nm) underlayers were studied using the magneto-optical indicator film technique. The ground states of the sandwich are characterized by non-collinear magnetization orientations in the two Co layers, which can be remagnetized by the motion of 180 degree and non-180-degree domain walls. In the latter case, the angle between the magnetization vectors in the adjacent domains was revealed to be about 100 , and an anomalous sample magnetization reversal was observed. The canted magnetization states and their mutual transformations are discussed in terms of the competition between ferromagnetic coupling through pinholes and antiferromagnetic coupling across the Ru layer.

Citation

Applied Physics Letters

Volume

91

Issue

No. 10

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

anomalous switching behavior, antiparalle-coupled Co layers, ferromagnetic coupling, magnetization reversal mechanisms

Citation

Gornakov, V. , Nikitenko, V. , Egelhoff, W. , McMichael, R. , Shapiro, A. and Shull, R. (2002), Anomalous Switching Behavior of Antiparallel-Coupled CO Layers Separated by a Super-Thin Ru Spacer, Applied Physics Letters (Accessed October 18, 2025)