Interlayer magnetic coupling in perpendicular anisotropy L 10 -FePt based pseudo spin valve

Abstract

The interlayer coupling effects in L 10 -FePt based pseudo spin valve were investigated through the reversal behavior and exchange bias properties of the soft L 10 -FePt layer. The magnitude and sign of the exchange bias field were highly dependent on the magnetization state of the hard L 10 -FePt layer. In the presence of a fully saturated hard L 10 -FePt layer, the exchange bias effect stemmed from interlayer interactions due to possible pinholes, Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida or Ńel coupling. With a partially saturated hard L 10 -FePt layer, stray fields emanated from the domain walls of the nonuniformly magnetized hard L 10 -FePt layer also contributed to the overall coupling strength. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.