The asymmetry of the magnetization reversal process in exchange biased Fe/FeF2 has been studied by magneto-optical Kerr effect. Qualitatively different transverse magnetization loops are observed for different directions of the cooling and the measuring field. These loops can be simulated by a simple calculation of the total energy density which includes the relevant magnetic anisotropies and coherent magnetization rotation only. Asymmetric magnetization reversal is shown to originate from the unidirectional anisotropy and may be observed if the external measuring field is not collinear with either the exchange bias or the easy axis of the antiferromagnetic epitaxial FeF2(110) layer.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0509419,
title = {Asymmetric magnetization reversal in the exchange bias system Fe/FeF_2 studied by MOKE},
author = {A. Tillmanns and S. Oertker and B. Beschoten and G. Güntherodt and J. Eisenmenger and Ivan K. Schuller},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0509419},
year = {2016}
}