Abstract
The magnetisation behaviour of polycrystalline permalloy/copper multilayers with mixed antiferromagnetic/ferromagnetic coupling was investigated as function of temperature. The results are discussed in a framework of a realistic model of anitferromagnetically coupled layers connected by ferromagnetic pinholes. A microstructure of pinholes (their density and dimensions) was varied either by a proper annealing treatment or by choosing samples with various Cu spacer thicknesses. It was demonstrated that the temperature changes of the net magnetic moment measured in a magnetic field smaller than the saturation field was strongly affected by the composition of the pinholes, their density, cross-sectional area and their lengths.