Switchable uncompensated antiferromagnetic spins: Their role in exchange bias

Abstract

We report element-resolved and interface-sensitive magnetization reversals investigated from an oppositely exchange-biased NiFe/FeMn/Co structure by employing soft x-ray resonant Kerr rotation measurements. We have found not only switchable uncompensated antiferromagnetic regions with its sizable thicknesses at both interfaces of the FeMn layer but also their strong coupling to the individual ferromagnetic layers. These experimental results provide a better insight into experimentally observed reductions in exchange-bias field on the basis of an interface-proximity model proposed in this work.