Efficient characteristics of exchange coupling and spin–flop transition in Py/Gd bilayer using anisotropic magnetoresistance

Abstract

Interlayer antiferromagnetic coupling rare-earth/transition-metal bilayer ferrimagnet systems have attracted much attention because they present different unusual temperature- and field-dependent nontrivial magnetic states and dynamics. These properties and the implementation of their applications in spintronics highly depend on the significant temperature dependence of the magnetic exchange stiffness constant A. Here, we quantitatively determine the temperature dependence of magnetic exchange stiffness APy−Gd and AGd in the artificially layered ferrimagnet consisting of a Py/Gd bilayer, using a measurement of anisotropic magnetoresistance of the bilayer thin film at different temperatures and magnetic fields. The obtained temperature dependencies of APy−Gd and AGd exhibit a scaling power law with the magnetization of Gd. The critical field of spin–flop transition and its temperature dependence can also be directly obtained by this method. Additionally, the experimental results are well reproduced by micromagnetic simulations with the obtained parameters APy−Gd and AGd, which further confirms the reliability of this easily accessible technique.