Electronic structure of multilayers: nature of the magnetic interlayer interaction

Novel effects in magnetic multilayer structures, such as oscillatory magnetic coupling and 'giant' magnetoresistance, have created new materials that allow for an order of magnitude higher sensitivity in the detection of magnetically recorded data. Determination of their electronic and magnetic structure with angle-resolved photoemission and inverse photoemission reveals quantitized states in the noble metal spacer layers which are connected with oscillatory magnetic coupling and have implications on magnetoresistance. These states can be understood by a simple interferometer model, including the spin-dependent interface reflectivity that polarizes them and transmits the magnetic coupling through the noble metal spacer. Contacts are established between the quantum well model, RKKY theory and first principles band calculations. © 1995.