Isothermal switching of perpendicular exchange bias by pulsed high magnetic field

Isothermal switching of a perpendicular exchange bias by a strong pulsed magnetic field has been investigated using a Pt/Co/alpha-Cr2O3 thin film system. The switching of the perpendicular exchange bias is accompanied by the spin reversal of interfacial uncompensated antiferromagnetic Cr spins. We have also demonstrated that the switching of the exchange bias is reversible by changing the pulsed magnetic field direction. The mechanism of the demonstrated switching is discussed from the viewpoint of the spin flop transition of the alpha-Cr2O3 layer. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4731643]