The role of weak interlayer coupling in the spin-reorientation of perpendicular ultrathin Co-Fe-B/MgO-based heterostructures

Ultrathin magnetic tunneling structures implicate fundamental interlayer exchange coupling between magnetic layers. Here, we describe its important role in the spin-reorientation transition of weakly coupled perpendicular ultrathin Ta/Co-Fe-B/MgO/Co-Fe-B/Ta heterostructures. Near the spin-reorientation, the domain structure is quite sensitive to weak interlayer exchange coupling. Antiferromagnetic coupling stabilizes homogeneous perpendicular magnetization at the remanence, whereas ferromagnetic coupling favors in-/out-of-plane stripe domains. Close to the spin-reorientation transition, even the subtle changes of interlayer exchange coupling can lead to reversible switching between stable in- and out-of-plane states. Our results suggest that this multi-stability caused by the interplay of perpendicular anisotropy and weak interlayer coupling can be utilized in perpendicular spin torque devices operating under reduced spin currents