Exchange anisotropy in epitaxial NiO(001)-fcc Co bilayers.

We have sputter deposited NiO–Co bilayers on MgO (001) substrates. NiO grows epitaxially on MgO at 800 °C and subsequently room temperature deposited Co films have a fcc crystal structure in epitaxy with the oxide underlayer. Bias fields higher than 700 Oe at 5 K were reported. Polar Kerr effect measurements evidence saturation fields for perpendicular magnetization up to 15 T at low temperature, proof for a strong NiO–Co exchange interaction. The formation of a domain wall in the Co layer is a possible mechanism for such large saturation fields. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]