Exchange Bias in Gadolinium Orthochromite

Abstract

Quantum-mechanical mean field theory has been applied to study the origin of exchange bias and spin reversal near the compensation point in the GdCrO3 compound. An applied magnetic field near the compensation point induces weak additional canting of the transition metal M3+ magnetic moments that violates the energy balance of isotropic and anisotropic exchange interactions in the system of transition-metal and rare-earth ions. The unidirectional anisotropy appears to be connected with the direction of the applied field relative to the ferromagnetic moment of M3+ ions.