Temperature controlled Fe/Au/FeRh spin valves

Abstract

We demonstrate that FeRh layers can be implemented to the epitaxial Fe/Au/FeRh spin valve structures grown on MgO(001). Owing to the AFM-FM phase transition in the FeRh film, the magnetic structure of our Fe/Au/FeRh system can be temperature controlled. The indirect exchange coupling between Fe and FeRh films mediated by the Au spacer enables to control the relative orientation of the Fe and FeRh magnetizations by the Au spacer thickness between ferromagnetic and non-collinear with nearly orthogonal magnetizations. Moreover, the evolution of magnetic structure of the Fe/Au/FeRh system along with the AFM-FM transition is accompanied by the reversible in-plane rotation of the top Fe-layer magnetization.