An imprinted four-fold magnetic anisotropy was observed in the amorphous ferromagnetic layer of FeRh/CoFeB heterostructures. The easy magnetization axes of the CoFeB layer are along the FeRh〈110〉 and FeRh〈100〉 directions for the epitaxially grown FeRh layer in the antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic states, respectively. The fourfold magnetic anisotropy of the amorphous CoFeB layer is imprinted due to the interfacial exchange coupling between the CoFeB and FeRh moments from the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the epitaxial FeRh layer, which may be applied to probe the magnetic structures of antiferromagnetic materials without using synchrotron methods.
- Yali Xie
- Qingfeng Zhan
- Run-Wei Li
