Magnetic field direction dependent magnetization reversal in synthetic antiferromagnets based on first-order reversal curve analysis

In this study, a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) composed of [Co/Ni]/Ir/[Ni/Co] with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) was fabricated using magnetron sputtering. The magnetization reversal observed in synthetic antiferromagnets is typically attributed to the competition among Zeeman, anisotropy, and exchange coupling energies. Once fabricated, the reversal sequences of the two ferromagnetic layers within this structure remain consistent. This study introduces an innovative method for manipulating magnetization reversal sequences by adjusting the direction of the magnetic field. First order reversal curves (FORC) can be utilized to analyse the magnetic reversal behaviors of synthetic antiferromagnets by varying the direction of the external magnetic field.