The asymmetric magnetization reversal in exchange biased granular Co/CoO films
- Wu, R.
- Wei, J. Z.
- Peng, X. L.
- Fu, J. B.
- Liu, S. Q.
- Zhang, Y.
- Xia, Y. H.
- Wang, C. S.
- Yang, Y. C.
- Yang, J. B.
DOIAbstract
A special kind of asymmetric magnetization reversal characterized by a sharp step in the second quadrant of the hysteresis loop has been investigated in the exchange biased Co/CoO films. This asymmetry only exists in the film where the small clusters grow to form islands. A bimodal distribution of the first-order reversal curves diagram demonstrates that the irreversible magnetization reversal is composed of the free part and exchange biased part, originating from the grains smaller and larger than 6 nm in the film, respectively. The finite-size effect of the antiferromagnetic anisotropy in the ultrafine grains is responsible for this asymmetry. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&Sr...
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