Local Writing of Exchange Biased Domains in a Heterostructure of Co/Pd Pinned by Magnetoelectric Chromia

Abstract

The writing of micrometer‐scaled exchange bias domains by local, laser heating of a thin‐film heterostructure consisting of a perpendicular anisotropic ferromagnetic Co/Pd multilayer and a (0001) oriented film of the magnetoelectric antiferromagnet Cr2O3 (chromia) is reported. Exchange coupling between chromia's boundary magnetization and the ferromagnet leads to perpendicular exchange bias. Focused scanning magneto‐optical Kerr measurements are used to measure local hysteresis loops and create a map of the exchange bias distribution as a function of the local boundary magnetization imprinted in the antiferromagnetic pinning layer on field cooling. The robust boundary magnetization of the Cr2O3 fundamentally alters the exchange bias mechanism, enabling the writing of micrometer‐scaled regions of oppositely directed exchange bias using a focused laser beam.