Exchange-spring driven spin-flop transition in DyFe2/YFe2 superlattices

Exchange-spring driven spin-flop transition is observed in hysteresis loops of an antiferromagnetic [DyFe2 40 Å/YFe2 160 Å]×20 superlattice at temperatures higher than 100 K, with field along the in-plane easy axis [1¯10]. OOMMF micromagnetic simulation reveals that this transition is derived from the magneto-elastic interaction in DyFe2. Conventional exchange spring behavior is also observable at smaller fields. Simulation shows that it is caused by the simultaneous rotation of the magnetization vectors of both the hard and soft layers towards [010]. Experiment and simulation agree qualitatively with each other.