Magnetization switching process in multilayers having both bilinear and biquadratic exchange coupling between the adjacent magnetic layers

Magnetization switching process was investigated for GMR multilayers possessing both bilinear and biquadratic coupling between the adjacent magnetic layers, by means of numerical analysis. During the magnetization process, various kinds of magnetization configuration transformations take place depending on the relative values of the exchange coupling fields of both types and the induced anisotropy in each layer. Abrupt switching occurs for the transformation between the configurations between which an energy barrier exits, and when plurality of stable configurations exist as a destiny, it is concluded that the transformation path should depend on the loss mechanism which is still to be investigated.