Abstract
X-ray reflectivity, neutron reflectivity studies and Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect measurements
(MOKE) have been carried out on thermally evaporated FeMn-FeNi exchange biased films
before and after ion irradiation by helium ions. MOKE shows that ion irradiation reduces the
exchange bias characteristics of the samples with increased dose. Modelling of the
reflectivity data infers that atoms from the buffer layer are displaced by the ions and
imbedded into the substrate material. The correlation between these strong structural
modifications by irradiation with the reduction of the exchange bias will be discussed.