Origin of training effect of exchange bias in Co/CoO due to irreversible thermoremanent magnetization of the magnetically diluted antiferromagnet

Abstract

The irreversible thermoremanent magnetization of a sole, magnetically diluted epitaxial antiferromagnetic Co$_{1-y}$O(100) layer is determined by the mean of its thermoremanent magnetizations at positive and negative remanence. During hysteresis-loop field cycling, thermoremanent magnetization exhibits successive reductions, consistent with the training effect (TE) of the exchange bias measured for the corresponding Co$_{1-y}$O(100)/Co bilayer. The TE of exchange bias is shown to have its microscopic origin in the TE of the irreversible thermoremanent magnetization of the magnetically diluted AFM.