Oscillatory antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling in Co/Pt multilayer with perpendicular anisotropy

Investigations have been performed on the interlayer coupling between Co layers across the Pt spacer in the sample structure of Co(4 angstrom)/Pt(t(pt) angstrom)/[Co(4 angstrom)/Pt(6 angstrom)](2) with perpendicular anisotropy. Below t(pt)= 22 angstrom, ferromagnetic interlayer coupling has been always observed, and above t(pt) = 22 angstrom, oscillatory antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling superimposed onto an average decay has been observed as a function of the Pt spacer thickness. The oscillatory behavior can be considered to originate from the RKKY-type coupling. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.