Physical Review Letters 79(14), 2734 (1997).
We measure, as a function of interlayer thickness, the magnitude of the bilinear exchange coupling in an Fe/Au/Fe tri-layer, to investigate the existing order of magnitude discrepancy between theory and experiment. We use Fe whisker substrates, scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis and reflection high energy electron diffraction to monitor the sample’s magnetic and physical structure, and confocal magneto-optic Kerr effect to determine the coupling. We determine the exchange coupling strengths of the individual oscillating terms. The total bilinear coupling strength is -1.9 ± 0.2 mJ/m2, for a Au interlayer thickness of 4 ML, in substantial agreement with current theory.
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