Possibility of Helical Interlayer Coupling in the Magnetic Superlattices and Overlayers

Abstract

We consider interlayer magnetic coupling in a superlattice and/or overlayer in the case when spacer layer has the tendency towards formation of the helical spin density wave. Within phenomenological Landau-Ginzburg approach we show that the mutual interplay of the SDW and interlayer coupling spin polarization can lead to the helical interlayer coupling. When surface anisotropy is accounted for the effective interaction mimics interlayer biquadratic coupling.