“…In the case of the metal/oxide heterostructures, the domain structure of the metal is carefully modulated by that of the underlying oxide, opening the possibility of carrying out novel experiments to study spin-dependent domain-wall scattering and quantify domain wall resistance in mesoscopic geometries. Utilizing state-of-the-art characterization methods, using synchrotron radiation [25] and electron holography [26,27], we addressed the critical role of all aspects of the microstructure, at relevant length scales, in determining these specific magnetic properties. Two significant highlights of this project were the use of photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) work to elucidate their asymmetric magnetization reversal mechanism [10] and the use of element-specific X-ray magnetic reflectivity and x-ray resonant scattering to probe buried interfaces [13], both of importance in understanding the fundamental physics of exchange bias.…”