Reflection-amplitude Approximation for the Interlayer Exchange Coupling in (001) Co/Cu/Co Multilayers

The reflection-amplitude approximation is used to calculate the interlayer exchange coupling in (001) Co/Cu/Co multilayers. The dependence of the phase factor of the reflection amplitude on the energy and wave vector is included. The contribution of each period is calculated and the results are compared with those from the asymptotic behavior. It is shown that the energy and wave-vector dependence of the phase factor may affect the interlayer exchange coupling significantly.