By means of magneto-optical Kerr effect we observe for the first time antiferromagnetic coupling between ferromagnetic layers across an amorphous metallic spacer layer. Biquadratic coupling occurs at the transition from a ferromagnetically to an antiferromagnetically coupled region. Scanning tunneling microscopy images of all involved layers are used to extract thickness fluctuations and to verify the amorphous state of the spacer. The observed antiferromagnetic coupling behavior is explained by RKKY interaction taking into account the amorphous structure of the spacer material.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9802148,
title = {Antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling across an amorphous metallic spacer layer},
author = {D. E. Buergler and D. M. Schaller and C. M. Schmidt and F. Meisinger and J. Kroha and J. McCord and A. Hubert and H. -J. Guentherodt},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9802148},
year = {2009}
}
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