Study of exchange anisotropy in NiFe/NiMn and NiFe/IrMn exchange coupled films

Exchange anisotropy in NiFe/NiMn and NiFe/IrMn exchange coupled films was studied as a function of temperature using vibrating sample magnetometry. The exchange field was measured using three different methods: (1) as a shift of the hysteresis loop measured in an external field applied parallel to the exchange field direction; (2) calculated from the initial susceptibility in the field applied perpendicular to the exchange field; and (3) calculated from the shift of minor reversible hysteresis loops measured in external fields applied in a few different directions close to the perpendicular to the exchange field. The values of the exchange field in NiFe/NiMn samples measured using methods 2 and 3 were similar and approximately twice as high as the values measured using method 1. For the NiFe/IrMn samples methods 2 and 3 gave exchange field values slightly exceeding the values obtained using method 1. The results are explained using a model in which it is assumed that the interfacial interactions between a...