Magnetic coupling layers, structures comprising magnetic coupling layers and methods for fabricating and/or using same

A magnetic structure comprising:

• a first magnetic layer having a first magnetization direction;
• a second magnetic layer having a second magnetization direction;
• a coupling layer interposed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, the coupling layer comprising:
• at least one non-magnetic element selected from the group consisting of:
• Cr, Ir, Rh, and Re;
• and
• at least one magnetic element selected from the group consisting of:
• Fe, Ni and Co;
• wherein the atomic ratio of the at least one non-magnetic element to the at least one magnetic element is (100-x):x;
• and
• wherein x is an atomic concentration parameter which causes, or is selected to cause, the first magnetic layer to be antiferromagnetically coupled to the second magnetic layer such that, in the absence of external magnetic field, the first magnetization direction is oriented at an antiferromagnetic angle relative to the second magnetization direction.

A method for fabricating a magnetic structure, the method comprising:

• forming an initial magnetic structure by layering a coupling layer between a first magnetic layer having a first magnetization direction and a second magnetic layer having a second magnetization direction, the coupling layer comprising:
• at least one non-magnetic element selected from the group consisting of:
• Ag, Cr, Ru, Mo, Ir, Rh, Cu, V, Nb, W, Ta, Ti, Re, Os, Au, Al and Si;
• the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer each comprising at least one magnetic element selected from the group consisting of:
• Ni, Co, and Fe;
• annealing the initial magnetic structure at a temperature over 100° C. to cause at least some of the at least one magnetic element of the first and second magnetic layers to diffuse into the coupling layer such that an atomic ratio of the at least one non-magnetic element to the at least one magnetic element in the coupling layer is (100-x):x, wherein x is an atomic concentration parameter;
• and
• continuing to anneal the initial structure until the atomic concentration parameter x is such that the first magnetic layer is non-collinearly coupled to the second magnetic layer such that, in the absence of external magnetic field, the first magnetization direction is oriented at a non-collinear angle relative to the second magnetization direction.