Abstract

The origin of the exchange bias phenomenon is investigated on the basis of a quantum mechanical model. In particular, the mechanisms that determine the magnetic structure in the vicinity of an antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic interface are reexamined. This way we establish how the breaking of translational invariance modifies quantum spin fluctuations. It is found that non-uniform fluctuations induce uncompensated spins in the antiferromagnet, which in turn give rise to a dipole field that couples to the magnetization of the ferromagnet. This coupling yields an exchange bias field that is of the order of magnitude of the one observed experimentally. A net surface magnetization should also be experimentally observable in a clean antiferromagnetic surface. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.