Theory of oscillatory exchange coupling in Fe/(V,Cr) and Fe/(Cr,Mn)

Using a first-principles method, we determined the composition and orientation dependence of oscillatory exchange coupling in bcc Fe/VxCr1-x and Fe/Cr1-yMny magnetic multilayer alloys for 0<x<1 and 0<y<0.3. For the [001] and [110] orientations, the coupling was oscillatory and well described by the superposition of two well-separated RKKY-like components. The composition dependence of the coupling amplitudes and periods shows a rich variety of features. These are discussed and compared with experiment and the predictions of simplified models. © 1995 The American Physical Society.