Finite-temperature coercivity of multilayers of hard and soft magnets

We discuss results of finite-temperature Monte Carlo simulation for the swi tching field of multilayers of hard and soft magnets. The maximum of the en ergy product as a function of the soft layer thickness is very weak and bec omes weaker as the temperature is increased. However, the maximum becomes m ore pronounced for the energy product cost as a function of the soft layer thickness. The effect of the dipolar interaction is significant but does no t change the qualitative trend of the coercive field as a function of the s oft layer thickness. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00 )01115-4].