Strain-controlled Néel temperature and exchange bias enhancements in IrMn/CoFeB bilayers

We propose a numerical method, where first-principles calculations are combined with modified Monte Carlo simulations, and study the Néel temperature of antiferromagnetic IrMn and exchange bias effect in antiferromagnet/ferromagnet IrMn/CoFeB bilayers manipulated by the applications of tensile and compressive strains. The results show that both tensile and compressive strains linearly change the magnetic moment of Mn and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of IrMn, and meanwhile, the uniaxially easy-axis directions under tensile and compressive strains are perpendicular. The strain-triggered increase in antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between Mn–Mn pairs is revealed and induces an up to 1.5 times enhancement of the Néel temperature of IrMn. Furthermore, the spontaneous and conventional exchange bias effects can be both observed under large tensile strains, also sensitive to the cooling field, and strongly enhanced roughly by 800% under 8 T in the application of 1.5% strain, which can be interpreted by the strain-induced high magnetocrystalline anisotropies. Thus, the tensile strains are better for controlling and optimizing the Néel temperature of IrMn and further exchange bias properties in IrMn-based heterostructures. This work establishes the correlations between microscopically and macroscopically magnetic responses to strain, indicating that strain can be an intriguing means of extrinsic manipulation of exchange bias, which is of importance for spintronic device applications.