Long-Range Exchange Bias across a Spacer Layer

Abstract

Ferromagnet (FM)/antiferromagnet (AF) exchange bias, heretofore considered due to nearest-neighbor exchange coupling at the FM/AF interface, has been found to be long range. Using trilayers of FM/spacer/AF with Ag, Au, and Cu as spacer layer materials, the strength of the observed exchange coupling decays exponentially and extends to as much as 50 \AA{}.