Oscillatory interlayer exchange and magnetoresistance in Fe/Cu multilayers

Abstract

We have studied the magnetic and magnetotransport properties of Fe/Cu mu1tilayers prepared by sputtering. We find oscillations of the inter1ayer coupling as a function of the Cu thickness with the same long period as in Co/Cu multilayers (around 12.5 Á). The most striking result is that the oscillations in Fe/Cu and Co/Cu have almost exactly opposite phases. A large magnetoresistance of the spin-valve type is observed in the half periods with antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange. However, the magnetoresistance in Fe/Cu is definitely smaller than in Co/Cu.