Investigation of interface wall energy sigma sub w and coercivity H sub C in exchange-coupled double layers (ECDLs)

Exchange-coupled double layers (ECDLs) and corresponding single layers of amorphous RE/TM alloys were sputtered. Their temperature-dependent magnetic behavior was investigated by Kerr and VSM measurements. The obtained switching fields H sub S of the sublayers are shifted with respect to the coercivities H sub C by the coupling energy sigma sub W . In the extreme, this leads to a magnetization reversal against an applied field. The coupling energy was determined at a special temperature T sub S from the data for the ECDL only, and over the whole temperature range by combining the corrected H sub C values of the single layers with the switching fields H sub S of the ECDLs.