Beyond the Magnetic Domain Matching in Magnetic Exchange Coupling

We report a new macroscopic first-field-induced magnetic anisotropy for Co/alpha-Fe2O3(0001) layers, a prototypical ferromagnetic- antiferromagnetic interface for which the antiferromagnetic film has small in-plane magnetic anisotropy as compared to the interface coupling. We demonstrate that the effect is due to a first-field-induced irreversible magnetic domain motion in the antiferromagnetic layer, dragged by the ferromagnetic Co one. Whereas the initial domain matching is lost, the macroscopic manifestations of the exchange coupling remain stable. Therefore, the initial domain matching probably has only a marginal role in the explanation of the magnetic exchange coupling.