In-field δM plots: Simple yet efficient manner to assess interactions in exchange-bias systems

Abstract Recently, the in-field δ M R interaction-plot technique has been extended for systems with shifted and asymmetric major magnetization hysteresis loops. In the present work an alternative definition of δ M R , allowing a better graphic visualization of this plot, is given. The method is applied to a series of Co/Cu/IrMn films in order to examine the variations, with the thickness of the nonmagnetic Cu layer, of the interactions emerging from the Co/IrMn interface and those coming from magnetic coupling within the Co film. Model simulations indicate that, for the case of symmetric major loops, the effects of the ferromagnet/antiferromagnet exchange coupling might not be identified by interaction plots, being only evidenced by the shift along the magnetic-field axis and the coercivity enhancement.