Enhanced exchange anisotropy in IrMn/CoFeB systems and its correlation with uncompensated interfacial spins

Abstract

Bottom pinned exchange bias systems of IrMn/CoFe and IrMn/CoFeB on CoFe seed layers were studied. Enhanced exchange anisotropy has been observed for IrMn/CoFeB samples annealed at 350 °C. The ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layers of both samples are polycrystalline and textured {110} for the CoFe and CoFeB, and {111} for IrMn. Results demonstrated that the enhanced exchange anisotropy in the IrMn/CoFeB system is closely associated with the increased uncompensated interfacial spins as evidenced by the enhanced Mn x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) signal strength. A quantitative correlation between the Mn XMCD signal and the exchange anisotropy constant Jk was observed.