Interfacial domain formation during magnetization reversal in exchange-biased CoO/Co bilayers

We have carried out detailed experimental studies of the exchange bias effect of a series of CoO/Co(111) textured bilayers with different Co layer thickness, using the magneto-optical Kerr effect, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry, polarized neutron reflectivity, x-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. All samples exhibit a pronounced asymmetry of the magnetic hysteresis at the first magnetization reversal as compared to the second reversal. Polarized neutron reflectivity measurements show that the first reversal occurs via nucleation and domain wall motion, while the second reversal is characterized by magnetization rotation. Off-specular diffuse spin-flip scattering indicates the existence of interfacial magnetic domains. All samples feature a small positive exchange bias just below the blocking temperature, followed by a dominating negative exchange bias field with decreasing temperature.