On the mechanism of irradiation enhanced exchange bias

TL;DR

This paper investigates how ion irradiation modifies the exchange bias in NiFe/FeMn bilayers, emphasizing the roles of defect locations and magnetic coupling during irradiation, and proposing model extensions.

Contribution

It introduces an extended model for exchange bias systems that accounts for defect locations and magnetic coupling effects during irradiation.

Findings

Defect locations significantly influence exchange bias modifications.

Magnetic coupling during irradiation is crucial for understanding changes.

Current models need to be extended to include these factors.

Abstract

By means of layer resolved ion irradiation the mechanisms involved in the irradiation driven modifications of the exchange bias effect in NiFe/FeMn bilayers have been investigated. It is shown that not only the locations of the defects but also the magnetic coupling between both layers during the irradiation process is of crucial importance. This requires an extension of current models accounting for defects in exchange bias systems.