Temperature dependence of exchange bias and training effect in Co/CoO film with induced uniaxial anisotropy

Abstract

The exchange bias effect and training effect of the Co/CoO film with induced uniaxial anisotropy were investigated as functions of temperature. It was found that both effects exhibited drastic differences along the easy and the hard axes. Along the easy axis, the magnetization reversal was dominated by domain wall motion throughout the whole temperature range. However, along the hard axis, the magnetization reversal was dominated by domain wall motion and domain rotation at temperatures below and above 150 K, respectively. The crossover of the two reversal modes characterized with significant asymmetry in the hysteresis loop was observed along the hard axis at 150 K due to the interplay between the exchange and uniaxial anisotropies. Significant difference of training effect in the two directions was observed and ascribed to the differences of the duration and intensity of the interaction between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spins in the two magnetization reversal modes.