Enhancement of exchange bias through a non-magnetic spacer

The magnitude of exchange bias, H-E, measured perpendicular to the film plane, can be significantly enhanced by inserting an ultrathin Pt spacer layer between a (Pt/Co) multilayer (ML) with perpendicular anisotropy and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer. A less pronounced effect is also observed when the spacer is introduced inside the AFM layer, near the FM-AFM interface. The H-E enhancement is attributed to the role of the Pt spacer in increasing the perpendicular component of the ML magnetization and, consequently, the ferromagnetic (FM)/AFM spin projection. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.