Layered magnetic structures in research and application

An overview is given on the status of research and applications in the fiel d of layered magnetic structures and the historical development is indicate d. Currently the research on interlayer exchange coupling giant magnetoresi stance and tunnel magnetoresistance is particularly active, therefore the b asic understanding of these phenomena, the size of the effects, important i ssues and applications are discussed in some more detail. (C) 2000 Acta Met allurgica Inc. Published by Elsevier Scientific Ltd. All rights reserved.