Abstract

Evidence of 90° coupling between Fe layers in epitaxial Fe/NM/Fe sandwiches (NM = Cr, Au, Al) has recently been reported by various groups. Following Slonczewski's approach, we interpret this 90° coupling as arising from spatial nanoscopic fluctuations in the interlayer coupling through the NM spacer layer. We investigate numerically a model based on this assumption. The magnetization curves and coupling energy have been calculated in the realistic situation where thin NM and Fe layers are deposited on a thick Fe whisker. We investigate in particular the role of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy in the properties of this 90° coupling. We also compare the thermal variation of the bilinear coupling (A₁₂) with that of the 90° coupling.

Correspondence to:Dr. B. Dieny, CENG, DRFMC/SP2M/MP 85X, 38041 , Grenoble Cedex, , France.