Ultrathin Limit of Exchange Bias Coupling at Oxide Multiferroic/Ferromagnetic Interfaces

Exchange bias coupling at the multiferroic- ferromagnetic interface in BiFeO₃ /La₀.₇ Sr₀.₃ MnO₃ heterostructures exhibits a critical thickness for ultrathin BiFeO₃ layers of 5 unit cells (2 nm). Linear dichroism measurements demonstrate the dependence on the BiFeO₃ layer thickness with a strong reduction for ultrathin layers, indicating diminished antiferromagnetic ordering that prevents interfacial exchange bias coupling.