Oscillatory interlayer coupling in Fe/Mn/Fe trilayers

Fe/Mn/Fe wedged-shape sandwiches were prepared by molecular beam epitaxy un der optimal conditions. The interlayer coupling measured by magneto-optic K err effect is very strong for thin Mn layers. The canted angle between the magnetization vectors of the two magnetic layers in remanence increases gra dually from 0 degrees to about 180 degrees and then gradually reduces to 90 degrees for Mn thicknesses from 0.62 to 1.2 nm. For Mn layer thicknesses i n the range between 1.2 and 2.45 nm, the interlayer coupling is always 90 d egrees coupling, but its strength oscillates with a short period of about 2 Mn monolayers. The above coupling phenomenon can be well described by the proximity magnetism model. [S0163-1829(99)50618-8].