Magnetostatic bias in a composite hard/soft/hard microlayer

Abstract

A composite magnetically hard/soft/hard trilayer ribbon with micrometric thickness has been prepared by combined melt-spinning and electroplating techniques. Its main peculiarities relate to the existence of a magnetic coupling between hard and soft magnetic phases resulting in bias magnetic field acting on the soft layer. A systematic study of the low-field hysteresis loops has been performed after premagnetizing under a direct current saturating field as a function of the geometrical dimensions of both types of layers. The analysis of the observed bias effect has allowed us to conclude the magnetostatic origin of the tailorable coupling. The present investigation in microscale system points out to the potential technological applications that in a further step can be developed in nanomagnetic systems. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.