Exchange anisotropy in epitaxial Fe3O4/CoO and Fe3O4/CoxFe(sub 3-x)O4 bilayers grown by pulsed laser deposition

A study is conducted on epitaxial Fe3O4/CoO and Fe3O4/Co0.16Fe2.84O4 films grown on MgO via pulsed laser deposition. Results show large exchange bias fields for the Fe3O4/CoO system. The dependence of the exchange bias field on Fe3O4 thickness also follows an 1/d relation indicating a homogenous magnetization reversal process in the soft magnetic layer while a thin interface layer with a helical type, reversible spin rotation is observed.