First-principles studies of the interlayer exchange coupling in fine-layered Fe/Au multilayers

摘要

Using the ab initio approach, we calculate the bilinear coupling constant for the Fe_n/Au_m multilayers with n=2, 4, and 6, and m ranging from 2 up to 11 monolayers. The calculations show that the ferromagnetic order of two adjacent Fe layers is energetically favored in systems with small Au thickness, up to 5 or 6 monolayers. The calculated results also very closely reproduce the strength of the magnetic couplings known from experimental data. Simultaneously, the magnetic profile of each multilayer is calculated, showing enhanced Fe magnetic moments close to the interface in comparison with the bulk values and very slight polarization of Au layers.