Quantum Well Theory of the Exchange Coupling in Co/Cu/Co(001)

J. Mathon, Murielle Villeret, R. B. Muniz, J. d'Albuquerque e Castro, and D. M. Edwards
Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 3696 – Published 1 May 1995
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Abstract

The exchange coupling between two semi-infinite Co layers separated by a Cu(001) spacer is calculated by two different methods using s,p, and d tight-binding bands fitted to ab initio band structures of Cu and ferromagnetic Co. The contributions to the coupling from the belly (long period) and necks (short period) of the Cu Fermi surface (FS) are determined separately. It is shown that the short-period oscillation due to the minority electrons from the vicinity of the Cu FS necks is dominant, the contribution of the long-period oscillations being negligible. This is due to the existence of quantum well bound states for the minority electrons at the Cu FS necks in the ferromagnetic configuration.

  • Received 13 June 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.3696

©1995 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. Mathon and Murielle Villeret

  • Department of Mathematics, City University, London EC1V 0HB, United Kingdom

R. B. Muniz and J. d'Albuquerque e Castro

  • Departamento de Fisica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, Brazil

D. M. Edwards

  • Department of Mathematics, Imperical College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom

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Issue

Vol. 74, Iss. 18 — 1 May 1995

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