Magnetization Process of Exchange-Coupled Ferrimagnetic Double-Layered Films

Abstract

Magnetization curves are theoretically calculated for exchange-coupled ferrimagnetic double-layered (ECDL) films, each layer of which has a uniaxial anisotropy with the easy axis perpendicular to the film plane and exhibits a rectangular hysteresis loop. With this model are obtained the conditions for the appearance of anomalous and inverted hysteresis loops observed by the Kerr magneto-optic method. Experiments are made on Gd-Fe/Tb-Fe double-layered films deposited successively in a vacuum better than 10 -6 Torr. By comparing the experimental switching field for the Gd-Fe layer in ECDL films with the theory, the energy density of the interface wall is estimated to be 1–2 erg/cm 2 .