Depth magnetization profile of a perpendicular exchange coupled system by soft-x-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity

The magnetic profile across the interface of a perpendicular exchange coupled [NiO=CoO]3/Pt-Co/Pt(111) system is investigated. The magneto-optic Kerr effect reveals a strong coupling between the antiferromagnetic (AFM) oxide and the ferromagnetic (FM) Pt-Co layer, by an increasing coercivity and a rotation of the easy magnetization axis of the FM layer along the AFM spins. Soft x-ray resonant magnetic
reflectivity is used to probe the spatial distribution of the out-of-plane magnetization inside the oxide above its ordering temperature. It extends over 1 nm and exhibits a change of sign.