Epitaxial Mn₂Au thin films for antiferromagnetic spintronics

Mn₂Au is one of the few candidate materials for antiferromagnetic spintronics requiring ordered metals with a high Néel-temperature and strong spin–orbit coupling. We report the preparation of epitaxial Mn₂Au thin films by rf-sputtering. Structural characterization by x-ray and electron diffraction demonstrates a high degree of atomic order and the temperature dependence of the resistivity is typical for a good metal. The magnetic properties of the samples are studied by the investigation of Mn₂Au/Fe bilayers. Exchange bias effects are observed, which present strong evidence for antiferromagnetic order in the Mn₂Au thin films. Small domains of $\simeq$500 nm are visualized in the exchange coupled Fe thin film. (paper)