EXCHANGE-COUPLING IN TRIPLE-LAYERED FILMS

-Intermediate layers of exchange-coupled Gd-Fe I M I Tb-Fe (M Dy-Fe, Al, Pt) triple-layered films are investigated in detail. Measurements of interface wall energy and magnetic moment of the intermediate layer reveal the mechanism of exchange-coupling in triple-layered films. For the Dy-Fe intermediate layer, the reason for the exchange-coupling is considered an ordering of magnetic moments in the Dy-Fe layer by molecular field from adjacent layers. On the other hand, the exchange force from the Tb-Fe layer to the Gd-Fe layer would pass through pin hole and/or atomic diffusion for the AI intermediate layer. The exchange-coupling for the Pt intermediate layer is explained by the polarization of Pt moment and/or the RKKY interaction.