Strain-induced reversible and irreversible magnetization switching in Fe/BaTiO3 heterostructures

Magnetization switching of an Fe film in Fe/BaTiO3 heterostructures is demonstrated due to the interface lattice distortion caused by the structural phase transition of BaTiO3. The temperature dependence of in-plane magnetization of the Fe film in both zero and a small negative applied magnetic field clearly reveals that the reversible and irreversible magnetization switching processes occur in the Fe/BaTiO3 heterostructures. The variation in the magnetization orientation is corroborated by the fact that the symmetry of the magnetic anisotropy changes as the BaTiO3 undergoes the structural phase transition from the tetragonal to orthorhombic phases. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [doi :10.1063/1.3684695]