Period of oscillatory exchange interactions in Co/Cu and Fe/Cu multilayer systems

R. Coehoorn
Phys. Rev. B 44, 9331 – Published 1 November 1991
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Abstract

A simple expression is presented for the period Λ of oscillatory interlayer exchange interactions in Co/X and Fe/X magnetic multilayer systems (X= a nearly-free-electron metal). Λ is shown to be much longer than the period λ of the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida-like spin-density oscillations in the X layers, which are induced by the coupling with the ferromagnetic layers, if λ is close to an integral fraction of the interlayer spacing in the X layers. The dependence of Λ on the growth direction of the multilayers is explained. From the available experimental data on fcc Co/Cu(111), fcc Co/Cu(100), and fcc Fe/Cu(100), and from results of recently published band-structure calculations for bcc Fe/Cu(100) effective values of λ have been derived. In some cases small but significant deviations were found from the value of λ which is predicted from the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida theory.

  • Received 17 April 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.44.9331

©1991 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

R. Coehoorn

  • Philips Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 80000, 5600 JA Eindhoven, The Netherlands

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Issue

Vol. 44, Iss. 17 — 1 November 1991

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