Angular dependence of exchange anisotropy in Ni81Fe19/CrMnPtx bilayers

Abstract

We have investigated the unidirectional exchange anisotropy between a ferromagnetic (FM) Ni81Fe19 film and a disordered antiferromagnetic (AF) CrMnPtx (x=3, 6, or 9) film. The angular dependence of the exchange coupling in these FM/AF bilayers has been measured. We show that the complex angular dependence of this exchange coupling can be understood by a simple Stoner–Wohlfarth model involving only a uniaxial anisotropy and a unidirectional exchange coupling. Numerical results are in excellent agreement with the experimental data.