P. Grunberg et al., LONG-RANGE EXCHANGE INTERACTIONS IN EPITAXIAL LAYERED MAGNETIC-STRUCTURES, Physica. B, Condensed matter, 221(1-4), 1996, pp. 357-365
Since the discovery of antiferromagnetic (AF) type interlayer coupling
in 1986 numerous systems have been investigated. Generally, it is fou
nd that the coupling of ferromagnetic films separated by an interlayer
oscillates as a function of the interlayer thickness between ferro (F
)- and AF-type and the transition zones are characterized by 90 degree
s-type coupling. The oscillation periods are in agreement with a theor
y that attributes the microscopic origin of the coupling to an indirec
t exchange of the ferromagnetic layers via the electrons of the interl
ayer. For the 90 degrees-type coupling various mechanisms have been pr
oposed but the situation is still unclear. We would like to present he
re a condensed overview of the field and illustrate the development wi
th some own results.