Effect of exchange interactions at antiferromagnetic/ferromagnetic interfaces on exchange bias and coercivity

Abstract

We report on the correlation between unidirectional and uniaxial anisotropy in exchange-biased ferromagnetic Permalloy layers. The dependence of exchange bias and coercivity on temperature and the antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic layer thickness was studied and compared with the predictions of different theoretical models. A thorough explanation of the experimental data is provided by theoretical extension of Malozemoff's model.