Figure 1

Ni domain images of FeMn/Ni(8.0ML)/Cu(001) as a function of the FeMn overlayer thickness. The antiferromagnetic order of FeMn overlayer above 7.5 ML switches the Ni spin from out-of-plane to in-plane direction of the film.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 2

Ni domain images of FeMn/Ni/Cu(001) as a function the Ni-film thickness. The Ni spin-reorientation transition takes place (a) at $d_{\text{SRT}}=7.5$ ML for paramagnetic FeMn overlayer ($d_{\text{FeMn}}=6.0$ ML) and (b) at $d_{\text{SRT}}=10.5$ ML for antiferromagnetic FeMn overlayer ($d_{\text{FeMn}}=8.4$ ML).Reuse & Permissions

Figure 3

(Color online) The Ni-SRT critical thickness $d_{\text{SRT}}$ as a function of $d_{\text{FeMn}}$. The red solid line is guide to eyes. The antiferromagnetic order of the FeMn film above 7.5 ML generates a magnetic anisotropy to increase the Ni-SRT thickness from 7.5 to 10.5 ML.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 4

(a) Polar MOKE hysterisis loops of FeMn/Ni/Cu(001) as a function of Ni thickness for paramagnetic FeMn overlayer (left column, $d_{\text{FeMn}}=4.3$ ML) and antiferromagnetic FeMn overlayer (right column, $d_{\text{FeMn}}=8.4$ ML). (b) The Ni polar remanence as a function of Ni film thickness. Arrows indicate the Ni-SRT thickness. (c) The coercivity of FeMn/Ni(14.5ML)/Cu(001) as a function of the FeMn film thickness.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 5

(Color online) (a) the schematic drawing of 3Q-like FeMn spin structure. Arrows represent the spin orientation. Atoms are painted in three different colors to indicate different (001) planes. The dashed lines in (a) show the tetrahedral unit cell. (b) The out-of-plane, and (c) in-plane FeMn spin components at a (001) island with [100] and [110] steps. The net out-of-plane spin component is nonzero but alternates its direction between neighboring terraces (indicated by dot and cross at the center of atoms). The in-plane spin component has a nonzero net spin only at the [100]-type step edges.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 6

The Ni-SRT thickness $d_{\text{SRT}}$ of FeMn/Ni/Cu(001) as a function of the vicinal angle $\alpha$ for $d_{\text{FeMn}}=5$ ML and 17 ML of FeMn/Ni grown on vicinal Cu(001) with steps parallel to [100].Reuse & Permissions