MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF TRANSITION-METAL SUPERLATTICES

The magnetic coupling between Fe layers separated by spacer layers con sisting of up to two atomic planes of 3d transition metal elements (Sc , Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu) has been studied systematically by usi ng two complimentary theories based on cluster and band structure meth ods. The Fe layers are found to be ferromagnetically coupled in all ca ses except for Cr where this coupling alternates from ferro- to anti-f erromagnetic depending on whether the spacer layers are odd or even. F urthermore the spacer layers involving Sc, Ti and V are anti-ferromagn etically coupled to Fe while Co and Ni layers are coupled ferromagneti cally.