Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
Magnetoresistance(MR) properties of Au-based multilayers including two magnetic components, i.e.\Au/Co/Au/Ni(Fe)]xn, were investigated and compared with those of Cu-based films. The interlayer coupling between Co and Ni(Fe) through Au layer was found to be strongly antiferromagnetic if the thickness is less than 35Å. Antiparallel alignment of magnetizations caused by the difference in the coercive fields of Co and Ni(Fe) layers is realized when the Au layer thickness is larger than 50Å. Then, the resistance is enhanced by the spin-dependent scattering but the observed MR ratio is smaller than the case of Cu-based multilayers.