Modulation of interlayer exchange coupling by ion irradiation in magnetic tunnel junctions

Ion implantation of epitaxial Fe/MgO/Fe magnetic tunnel junctions exhibiting antiferromagnetic exchange coupling by spin polarized tunneling has been performed. X-ray reflectivity and transmission electron microscopy experiments were performed to extensively study the structural changes of the junct...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physics. Condensed matter 2008-02, Vol.20 (5), p.055219-055219 (10)
Main Authors: Snoeck, E, Baules, P, BenAssayag, G, Tiusan, C, Greullet, F, Hehn, M, Schuhl, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Exact sciences and technology
Interfacial magnetic properties (multilayers, magnetic quantum wells, superlattices, magnetic heterostructures)
Magnetic properties and materials
Magnetic properties of surface, thin films and multilayers
Physics
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Summary:Ion implantation of epitaxial Fe/MgO/Fe magnetic tunnel junctions exhibiting antiferromagnetic exchange coupling by spin polarized tunneling has been performed. X-ray reflectivity and transmission electron microscopy experiments were performed to extensively study the structural changes of the junctions. Electron holography and vibrating sample magnetometry experiments show that the amplitude and the nature of the coupling are modified by the irradiation. A gradual increase in the bilinear and the biquadratic coupling has been measured when the ion dose increases. For large doses, the net coupling becomes ferromagnetic. This corresponds to an intermixing of the MgO barrier with the adjacent Fe layers which is demonstrated by x-ray reflectivity.
ISSN:0953-8984
1361-648X
DOI:10.1088/0953-8984/20/5/055219