Controllable magnetic anisotropy and spin orientation of a prototypical easy-plane antiferromagnet on a ferromagnetic support

We report the magnetic properties of easy-plane antiferromagnetic NiO(111) thin films epitaxially grown on ferromagnetic Fe(110) layers. We find that the magnetic moments in NiO are rotatable within the NiO(111) sample plane and both magnetic anisotropy and orientation of antiferromagnetic NiO spins are determined by the magnetic properties of underlying ferromagnetic Fe layer. Specifically, the magnetic state and anisotropy of antiferromagnetic NiO can be modified by tuning the thickness of Fe, changing the temperature, or applying small external magnetic field.