Switching of Co magnetization driven by antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition of FeRh alloy in Co/FeRh bilayers

TL;DR

This study demonstrates reversible in-plane switching of Co magnetization in Co/FeRh bilayers driven by the temperature-induced AFM-FM phase transition of FeRh, enabling a new method for information writing via local temperature control.

Contribution

It reveals a novel temperature-driven magnetization switching mechanism in Co/FeRh bilayers due to interfacial exchange coupling during FeRh's phase transition.

Findings

Co spins switch between orthogonal in-plane directions.

Switching exhibits hysteresis linked to FeRh's phase transition.

Provides a new method for temperature-controlled magnetic writing.

Abstract

We show that Co spins in Co/FeRh epitaxial bilayers grown on W(110) switch reversibly between the two orthogonal in-plane directions as the FeRh layer undergoes temperature driven antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic (AFM-FM) phase transition. Switching of Co magnetization is characterized by a hysteretic behavior owing to a temperature hysteresis of the AFM-FM transition in FeRh. The spin reorientation of Co is driven by the evolution interfacial exchange coupling to FeRh system across the AFM-FM process. Our results provide a new method of writing information purely by a local temperature change.