Size effects in submicron exchange bias square elements

TY - JOUR

T1 - Size effects in submicron exchange bias square elements

AU - Vallejo-Fernandez, G.

AU - Chapman, J. N.

PY - 2009/6/29

Y1 - 2009/6/29

N2 - The behavior of submicron exchange bias square elements has been investigated for systems containing metallic polycrystalline layers. Numerical simulations using a simple theoretical model show that the exchange bias for such elements can increase and/or decrease depending on the microstructure of the antiferromagnetic layer and, in particular, its grain size distribution. The predictions are based on a granular model of exchange bias that accounts for grain cutting at the edges of the nanoelements that takes place during ion milling/etching. This leads to distributions of exchange bias fields that can be quite broad, especially in sub-250 nm elements.

AB - The behavior of submicron exchange bias square elements has been investigated for systems containing metallic polycrystalline layers. Numerical simulations using a simple theoretical model show that the exchange bias for such elements can increase and/or decrease depending on the microstructure of the antiferromagnetic layer and, in particular, its grain size distribution. The predictions are based on a granular model of exchange bias that accounts for grain cutting at the edges of the nanoelements that takes place during ion milling/etching. This leads to distributions of exchange bias fields that can be quite broad, especially in sub-250 nm elements.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67649970684&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1063/1.3170233

DO - 10.1063/1.3170233

M3 - Article

VL - 94

SP - 1

EP - 3

JO - Applied Physics Letters

JF - Applied Physics Letters

SN - 0003-6951

IS - 26

M1 - 262508

ER -