Epitaxial Mn₂Au thin films for antiferromagnetic spintronics

Abstract

Mn2Au is one of the few candidate materials for antiferromagnetic spintronics requiring ordered metals with a high Neel-temperature and strong spin–orbit coupling. We report the preparation of epitaxial Mn2Au thin films by rf-sputtering. Structural characterization by x-ray and electron diffraction demonstrates a high degree of atomic order and the temperature dependence of the resistivity is typical for a good metal. The magnetic properties of the samples are studied by the investigation of Mn2Au/Fe bilayers. Exchange bias effects are observed, which present strong evidence for antiferromagnetic order in the Mn2Au thin films. Small domains of 500 nm are visualized in the exchange coupled Fe thin film.