Exchange-bias in amorphous ferromagnetic and polycrystalline antiferromagnetic bilayers: Structural study and micromagnetic modeling

We study the role of the structure of antiferromagnetic polycrystalline metallic films in determining the magnetic properties of an exchange-coupled amorphous ferromagnetic layer. The bilayers are sputter-deposited, highly textured {111} Ir22Mn78 and Co65.5Fe14.5B20 thin films. We focus on structural characterization of Ir22Mn78 as a function of layer thickness in the range having the strongest influence over the exchange-bias field and training effect.

We have used transmission electron microscopy to characterize defects in the form of interface steps and roughness, interdiffusion, twin- and grain-boundaries. Such defects can result in uncompensated magnetic spins in the antiferromagnet, which then contribute to exchange-bias. These experimental results form the basis of a general model, which uses finite element micromagnetic simulations.

The model incorporates the experimental structural parameters of the bilayer by implementing a surface integral technique that allows numerical calculations to solve the transition from an amorphous to a granular structure. As a result, a detailed calculation of the underlying magnetic structure within the antiferromagnetic material is achieved.

These calculations are in good agreement with micromagnetic imaging using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy and the macro-magnetic properties of these bilayers.