Quantum mechanical calculations based on an extended Heisenberg model are
compared with ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) experiments on prototype trilayer
systems Ni_7/Cu_n/Co_2/Cu(001) in order to determine and separate for the first
time quantitatively the sources of the temperature dependence of interlayer
exchange coupling. Magnon excitations are responsible for about 75% of the
reduction of the coupling strength from zero to room temperature. The remaining
25% are due to temperature effects in the effective quantum well and the
spacer/magnet interfaces.Comment: accepted for publication in PR
