Reversible Tuning of the Magnetic Exchange Coupling in Fe/V (001) Superlattices Using Hydrogen

Abstract
The interlayer ordering between ferromagnetic Fe layers in Fe/V (001) superlattices is switched from initially parallel to antiparallel, as well as antiparallel to parallel, upon introducing hydrogen to the V layers. This process is reversible upon removal of the hydrogen. The results unambiguously prove that the major cause of the interlayer coupling transitions is not the hydrogen-induced changes of the thickness of the V layers, but most likely the distortion of the Fermi surface in the V layers.