= Interlayer exchange coupling
<Interlayer exchange coupling> is an interaction that favors particular relative orientations of <magnetization> in different magnetic layers. In a metallic multilayer, spacer <electrons> can mediate coupling even when a nonmagnetic layer separates the magnets.
A simple model writes <energy> per area as $E/A=-J\,\hat{\mathbf m}_1\cdot\hat{\mathbf m}_2$. Positive $J$ favors parallel alignment and negative $J$ favors antiparallel alignment. Spacer material and thickness affect the coupling; magnetic-field sweeps can reveal the field needed to overcome it. Correlated interface roughness can instead produce <orange-peel coupling>, so a preferred alignment alone does not uniquely establish exchange mediation. https://www.nist.gov/publications/interlayer-exchange-coupling[NIST publication record, Interlayer Exchange Coupling: spacer-electron mediation]{ref}
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