Assessing interface coupling in exchange-biased systems via in-field interaction plots

Abstract

An in-field interaction plot, δM R , has been recently introduced, presenting important advantages over the classical remanence plots. Here a general δM R is proposed, allowing to assess interactions even in systems with shifted and asymmetric major loops. To construct such a plot, a recoil loop and the position of the center of the major loop are only needed. Applying the method on exchange-biased Co/IrMn bilayer gives two types of δM R obtained for measuring field either parallel or antiparallel to the exchange-bias direction. This provides valuable information on the reversal mechanism and allows distinguishing between effects coming from magnetic coupling into the ferromagnet (Co) and those stemming from interactions in its interface with the antiferromagnet (IrMn). The essentially nonzero general δM R plot obtained from the major loop revealed to be a precise measure of the reversal asymmetry. The technique can readily be adjusted for use in other scientific fields where hysteresis is observed. We provide free software which generates such δM R plot(s).PACS numbers: 75.70.Cn, 75.30.Gw, 75.30.Et Wohlfarth pointed out a simple relation 1 between remanence curves of systems with symmetric major magnetization M , versus magnetic field H, hysteresis loops. These are the isothermal remanent magnetization curve M r (H), which represents the remanence obtained by the application and removal of a positive field on an initially demagnetized sample, and the DC demagnetization curve M d (H), i.e., the remanence resultant from the application of a negative field to a sample initially at saturation remanence. The Wohlfarth's relation

Polysulfone metal-activated carbon magnetic nanocomposites with enhanced CO2capture

“…The effects of magnetic interactions of the nanocomposites with magnetic llers were estimated herein through the recently introduced recoil-loop dM R plots. 70,71 Any nonzero deviation of dM R (H) should be ascribed to the magnetic interactions if the magnetic anisotropy is uniaxial. For the present study, we used recoil loops (also shown in Fig.…”