Effect of noncrystallographic magnetic anisotropy on magnetization reversal in multilayer magnetic films

A study has been carried out of the magnetization of a layered system consi sting of two exchange-coupled easy-axis ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer and having mutually perpendicular anisotropy axes. It i s shown that the magnetization of such a system can undergo stepwise decrea se with increasing magnetic field. The field dependence of the magnetizatio n has a bifurcation point. The magnetization orientation can exhibit jumps in excess of 90 degrees depending on the angle of magnetic-field orientatio n. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S1063-7834(99)02104-8].