Abstract
The effect of in situ thermal annealing of Mn-Ir films under ultra-high vacuum on the metallurgical microstructure and on the thermal stability of the unidirectional anisotropy constant, J K, was investigated for Mn 73Ir 27/Co 70Fe 30 bilayers. As a result, we found that the average lateral grain size of Mn-Ir increases with increasing the in situ annealing temperature, T IR and that the shape of J K-T curve changes to convex with increasing the T IR, implying a narrowing distribution of local blocking temperature. We conclude that ultra-high vacuum annealing is effective in improving the thermal stability of the exchange anisotropy of Mn-Ir/Co-Fe bilayers through the change of lateral grain size distribution of the Mn-Ir layer.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 248-252 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials |
Volume | 286 |
Issue number | SPEC. ISS. |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2005 Feb |
Keywords
- Exchange anisotropy
- Lateral grain growth
- Local blocking temperature
- Mn-Ir
- Thermal stability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics