International audienc

Structural and magnetic investigations of Ta 3 nm / ͓͑Pt 2 nm / Co 0.4 nm ͒ 3 / Pt tPt / IrMn 7 nm ͔ 7 / Pt 10 nm multilayers with t Pt = 0 and t Pt = 0.4 nm have been carried out using x-ray reflectometry, tomographic atom probe, and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. The structural investigations show that the Co/ IrMn interface is more diffuse in the absence of the Pt spacer. The consequences on the magnetic properties are discussed. The exchange-bias field and the anisotropy direction of these two specimens are analyzed in comparison to Ta 3 nm / ͓͑Pt 2 nm / Co 0.4 nm ͒ 3 / Pt tPt / IrMn 7 nm ͔ / Pt 10 nm multilayers containing only one ferromagnetic/ antiferromagnetic repeat and correlated with the structural investigations.