Interlayer coupling in spin valves studied by broadband ferromagnetic resonance

TL;DR

This study investigates how varying Cu spacer thickness affects the interlayer coupling and magnetic resonance modes in spin valves, revealing the impact on resonance spectra and mode dispersion.

Contribution

It introduces a broadband ferromagnetic resonance method combined with a numerical model to analyze interlayer coupling effects in spin valves with variable Cu thickness.

Findings

Coupling modifies resonance peak amplitudes.

Dispersion relations are distorted at anti-parallel states.

A numerical model explains observed phenomena.

Abstract

Magnetization dynamic response of coupled and uncoupled spin valves with structure NiFe(20 nm)/Cu(t_Cu)/NiFe(20 nm)/IrMn(10nm) were probed using broadband ferromagnetic resonance absorption measurements. By varying the Cu thickness t_Cu we were able to tailor the coupling intensity between the free and pinned layers. Broadband spectra show two resonant modes for each measured field. It is noticed that the coupling among NiFe layers modifies the amplitude of the absorption peaks and, moreover, the dispersion relations of the modes, which are distorted specially at the anti-parallel state. A numerical model is proposed and applied to address the underlying physics and the observed properties of these systems.