Control of interlayer magnetic coupling and magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers by insertion of very thin magnetic layer

Changes in magnetoresistive characteristics and in magnetization hysteresis curves with the insertion of very thin magnetic layers at interfaces between Cu spacer layers and magnetic layers are studied in Cu/Co, Cu/NiFe, and Cu/Co/Cu/NiFe multilayers. It was found that the interlayer magnetic coupling is strongly affected by covering the surfaces of magnetic layers with another type of magnetic layer a few angstroms thick. The possibility of controlling the magnetoresistance effect in magnetic multilayers using this phenomenon is discussed