Microscopic model for exchange bias from grain-boundary disorder in a ferromagnet/antiferromagnet thin film with a nanocrystalline microstructure
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Date
2014-01-01
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Publisher
AIP Publishing LLC
Abstract
Monte Carlo spin simulations were coupled to a Voronoi microstructure-generator to predict the magnitude and behavior of exchange bias in a magnitude/antiferromagnet (AF) thin film bilayer with a nanocrystalline microstructure. Our model accounts for the effects of irregular grain-shapes, finite-sized particles, and the possible presence of local random-fields originating from the antiferromagnet's grain-boundary regions. As the grain-boundary represents a crystal-structure distortion, we model the local effect on the exchange constants in the Gaussian approximation which can cause regions resembling a spin glass confined to an unusual 2D topology. Although an ensemble of completely disconnected AF grains isolated by non-magnetic barriers provides a small exchange bias, the introduction of a spin-glass network at the boundaries causes a four-fold enhancement in the magnitude of the loop-shift. This implies the importance of local grain-boundary behavior in defect-engineered antiferromagnets. © AIP Publishing LLC.
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Keywords
Antiferromagnetism, Microstructure, Films, Crystals, Grain boundaries, Gaussian processes
Citation
Cortie, D. L., Biternas, A. G., Chantrell, R. W., Wang, X. L., & Klose, F. (2014). Microscopic model for exchange bias from grain-boundary disorder in a ferromagnet/antiferromagnet thin film with a nanocrystalline microstructure. Applied Physics Letters, 105(3), 032402. doi:10.1063/1.4890580