Probing the ferromagnet antiferromagnet interface with spin waves

A thin ferromagnetic film coupled to an antiferromagnet can exhibit exchange biasing when the hysteresis curve is shifted slightly. A explanation for this shift has been proposed recently by Koon where it was argued that a surface spin flop state in the antiferromagnet exists at the interface. We employ a technique which gives both the equilibrium spin configurations and the spin wave frequencies within one calculation. The spin wave frequencies of both the ferromagnet and the antiferromagnet are substantially influenced by the interface exchange coupling, with a dramatic dip in frequencies where the structure changes from a noncanted slate to a canted state. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.