Characteristic temperatures in ferromagnetic - antiferromagnetic exchange biased systems are analyzed. In addition to usual blocking temperature of exchange bias $T_{ B}$, and the N\'{ e}el temperature of an antiferromagnet $T_{ N}$, the inducing temperature $T_{ ind}$, i.e., the temperature, at which the direction of exchange anisotropy is established, has been recently proposed. We demonstrate that this temperature is in general case different from $T_{ B}$ and $T_{ N}$. Physics and experimental approaches to measure the inducing temperature are discussed. Measurements of $T_{ ind}$, in addition to $T_{ B}$, and $T_{ N}$, provide important information about exchange interactions in ferromagnetic - antiferromagnetic heterostructures.
Categories: cond-mat.mtrl-sci