Anisotropic magnetoresistance and nontrivial spin Hall magnetoresistance in Pt/α-Fe2O3 bilayers

Magnetic proximity effect has only been conclusively observed in ferromagnet-based systems. We report the observation of anomalous Hall effect and angular-dependent anisotropic magnetoresistance in Pt on antiferromagnetic alpha-Fe2O3 (0001) epitaxial films at 10 K, which provide evidence for the magnetic proximity effect. The Neel order of alpha-Fe2O3 and the induced magnetization in Pt show a unique angular-dependent magnetoresistance compared with all other ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic systems. A macrospin response model is established and can explain the antiferromagnetic spin configuration and all main magnetoresistance features in the Pt/alpha-Fe2O3 bilayers.