Ultrathin magnetic tunneling structures implicate fundamental interlayer exchange coupling between magnetic layers. Here, we describe its important role in the spin-reorientation transition of weakly coupled perpendicular ultrathin Ta/Co-Fe-B/MgO/Co-Fe-B/Ta heterostructures. Near the spin-reorientation, the domain structure is quite sensitive to weak interlayer exchange coupling. Antiferromagnetic coupling stabilizes homogeneous perpendicular magnetization at the remanence, whereas ferromagnetic coupling favors in-/out-of-plane stripe domains. Close to the spin-reorientation transition, even the subtle changes of interlayer exchange coupling can lead to reversible switching between stable in- and out-of-plane states. Our results suggest that this multi-stability caused by the interplay of perpendicular anisotropy and weak interlayer coupling can be utilized in perpendicular spin torque devices operating under reduced spin currents.
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30 March 2015
Research Article|
April 02 2015
The role of weak interlayer coupling in the spin-reorientation of perpendicular ultrathin Co-Fe-B/MgO-based heterostructures
R. R. Gareev
;
R. R. Gareev
1Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik,
Universität Regensburg
, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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V. Zbarsky;
V. Zbarsky
2I. Physikalisches Institut,
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
3Institut für Physik,
Universität Greifswald
, Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 6, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
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J. Landers;
J. Landers
4Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE),
University of Duisburg-Essen
, Lotharstraße 1, 47048 Duisburg, Germany
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I. Soldatov;
I. Soldatov
5
Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung
, IFW Dresden, 01171 Dresden, Germany
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R. Schäfer;
R. Schäfer
5
Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung
, IFW Dresden, 01171 Dresden, Germany
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M. Münzenberg;
M. Münzenberg
2I. Physikalisches Institut,
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
3Institut für Physik,
Universität Greifswald
, Felix-Hausdorff-Straße 6, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
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H. Wende;
H. Wende
4Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE),
University of Duisburg-Essen
, Lotharstraße 1, 47048 Duisburg, Germany
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P. Grünberg
P. Grünberg
6
Forschungszentrum Jülich
, PGI-6, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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Appl. Phys. Lett. 106, 132408 (2015)
Article history
Received:
January 23 2015
Accepted:
March 06 2015
Citation
R. R. Gareev, V. Zbarsky, J. Landers, I. Soldatov, R. Schäfer, M. Münzenberg, H. Wende, P. Grünberg; The role of weak interlayer coupling in the spin-reorientation of perpendicular ultrathin Co-Fe-B/MgO-based heterostructures. Appl. Phys. Lett. 30 March 2015; 106 (13): 132408. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4915323
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