Probing the ferromagnet antiferromagnet interface with spin waves

A thin ferromagnetic film coupled to an antiferromagnet can exhibit exchang e 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 su rface spin flop state in the antiferromagnet exists at the interface. We em ploy a technique which gives both the equilibrium spin configurations and t he spin wave frequencies within one calculation. The spin wave frequencies of both the ferromagnet and the antiferromagnet are substantially influence d by the interface exchange coupling, with a dramatic dip in frequencies wh ere the structure changes from a noncanted slate to a canted state. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.