Layered magnetic structures in research and application

An overview is given on the status of research and applications in the field of layered magnetic structures and the historical development is indicated. Currently the research on interlayer exchange coupling giant magnetoresistance and tunnel magnetoresistance is particularly active, therefore the basic understanding of these phenomena, the size of the effects, important issues and applications are discussed in some more detail. (C) 2000 Acta Metallurgica Inc. Published by Elsevier Scientific Ltd. All rights reserved.