Oscillatory Exchange Coupling Depending on Both Thicknesses in Face-Centred (001)- d ₁ -Co/ d ₂ -Cu Multilayers

Abstract

By ab initio LMTO calculations in the atomic sphere approximation we study the oscillatory thickness dependence of the exchange coupling between ferromagnetic CO slabs grown epitaxially on the (001) surface of a f.c.c. Cu spacer in a d,-Co/&-Cu multilayer structure and find not only the well-known oscillations with the spacer thickness 4 , but-as a new result-also a pronounced oscillation with the magnetic thickness dl . Thus, the experimentalist should not only vary, as usual, the spacer thickness 4 , but also the magnetic thickness dl , when trying to optimize the exchange coupling of the system for applications.

Quantum Size Effects in Ultrathin Layered Magnetic Systems

“…[5,62]. This behavior was found previously from calculations based upon a free-electron model [43], and confirmed by first-principle calculations for the Co/Cu(001) system [36]. On the experimental point of view, it was confirmed by Bloemen et al [63] in Co/Cu/Co(001) and by Okuno and Inomata [64] in Fe/Cr/Fe(001).…”

“…The most direct way to study theoretically the IEC is to compute the total energy difference between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic configurations [33][34][35][36][37]. Although this is in principle straightforward, this approach turns out to be quite difficult.…”

Exchange Coupling and Magnetization Profiles of Binary and Ternary Magnetic Multilayers

“…by a comparison, performed in Ref. [4], of the results from Ref. [7] with the results obtained by the present method.…”

“…Such ab-initio calculations have been already used successfully by various groups, e.g. [7,8,4] and although they typically overestimate the amplitude of the thickness oscillations of the exchange interaction by one order of magnitude compared to experiments, the wavelengths and phases are reliably calculated, as shown, e.g. by a comparison, performed in Ref.…”

Low Temperature Properties of Inhomogeneous Magnetic Multilayers

“…[1,2]). Basic magnetic properties of multilayer systems have been examined both by experimentalists and theoreticians; in particular, the problem of elementary magnetic excitations in multilayers has been considered in many papers, where magnon dispersion relation and parameters of spin wave spectra have been obtained (see e.g.…”