Enhancement of exchange coupling between GaMnAs and IrMn with self-organized Mn(Ga)As at the interface.

An atomically flat and uniform reaction layer of Mn(Ga)As was found to self-organize at the (Ga,Mn)As/IrMn interface by postannealing. The Mn(Ga)As layer exhibits strong ferromagnetic characteristics up to the measured 300 K. In particular, the manifested horizontal shift of field-cooled hysteresis loops shows a clear signature of exchange bias attributable to the exchange coupling between IrMn and Mn(Ga)As. Implication from composition analyses, exchange-bias effect, and thickness dependence of the Mn(Ga)As layer versus annealing conditions is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]