We report on a combined structural and magnetic study of the [NiO(3ML)/CoO(3ML)]x3/[PtCo]/Pt(111) perpendicular exchange bias system prepared by electron beam epitaxy. The coherent epitaxy was followed and thoroughly characterized in situ by Surface X-ray Diffraction. The sample shows a maximum in the coercivity associated to TN and an exchange bias shift characterizing a strong exchange coupling. Ex situ PMOKE characterization also reveals, below TN, a spin reorientation within the ferromagnetic layer, induced by the strong anisotropy of the antiferromagnetic oxide. The depth dependence of the out-of-plane magnetization across the interface between the antiferromagnetic and the ferromagnetic layer has been investigated taking advantage of the chemical and spatial sensitivity of Soft X-ray Magnetic Reflectivity. A net magnetic moment is present in the oxide layers, both in the Co and Ni atoms. Upon TN, these moments are not confined to the ferromagnetic layer but extend in the oxide layer up to four atomic layers above the interface. These results show that interfacial effects observed in parallel exchange bias systems have their counterpart in perpendicular ones and that valuable insights into the surface structure and magnetism in these system emerge from combination of in situ, ex situ, and in-depth sensitive structural and magnetic characterizations.

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