Magnetic thermal hysteresis in Fem Dyn Fem and Gdm Dyn Gdm trilayers

Abstract

We have performed a theoretical investigation of thermal hysteresis in the magnetization of Fem Dyn Fem and Gdm Dyn Gdm trilayers, where the interface coupling is antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic, respectively. Our results show a large number of stable states can exist in these structures. The thermal hysteresis occurs because the transitions between these states occur at different temperatures for the heating and cooling processes. The thermal hysteresis can be quite large, spanning about 90 K. Furthermore the temperature span of the thermal hysteresis can be substantially reduced by applying a modest external magnetic field. © 2007 The American Physical Society.