Oscillatory exchange coupling in Co/Cu(111) superlattices

Interlayer Exchange Coupling and Giant Magnetoresistance in Magnetic Multilayers

“…For Cr a long period of 18 Α was found whereas for Os, which was not included in earlier experiments, also a significantly larger period of approximately 15 Α was found [16]. Moreover, further experiments [17,18], also inspired by theoretical predictions, showed that the oscillation periods depended on the specific growth orientation, i.e. on the orientation of the crystallographic planes with respect to the film normal, so that, even for a given element, no unique period could be defined.…”

Interlayer coupling between out-of-plane magnetized multilayers across a thin antiferromagnetic spacer

“…For very weak IEC (typically below 0.003 mJ/m 2 ), the Co3 hysteresis loop is essentially not shifted (loop shift lower than $1 mT) and the total magnetic signal is then the superposition of contributions from a classical uncompensated SynF and from another magnetic thin layer of low coercivity. To obtain an experimental realization of such weak coupling as a reference sample, it is possible to replace the IrMn spacer layer by a Cu layer of 3 nm thickness, known to provide a weak RKKY interlayer coupling for this relatively large thickness [26]. In the opposite limit of strong IEC, the system is equivalent to a single compensated SynF of composition Co5/Ru/Co5 since the coupling through IrMn is strong enough so that the two Co layers within the Co2/IrMn/Co3 sandwich switch together and thus behaves magnetically as a single Co5 thin film.…”

Structure and Magnetism of MBE-Grown Co/Cu Multilayers

“…The problem concerns the appearance of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in multilayers that have little [1,2] or no [3] evidence for antiferromagnetic (AF) coupling between Co layers which is up to now a well-established mechanism responsible for GMR in magnetic multilayers through spin dependent scattering. Some authors have put forward sample structural defects as a possible explanation for a lack of antiferromagnetic coupling, for example it was suggested that stacking faults [4] and pinholes [5] may lead to ferromagnetic bridging across neighbouring layers.…”