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The exchange coupling in textured HM/NM/alpha-Fe/NM/HM multilayer films (HM = NdFeB or PrFeB hard magnetic layers; NM = nonmagnetic Mo, Cu, and Cr layer) is shown to be indirect and long-range. The influences of thickness of NM spacer layer and HM layer, the material of HM phase and NM spacer layers, and the texture of HM layer, on the effective critical correlation length (L-ex(eff)) and exchange-coupling between soft-magnetic (SM) and HM layers are investigated. A non-linear dependence of L-ex(eff) on the thickness of NM spacer layer is observed. Magnetostatic interaction may lead to the observed non-linear dependence. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3671774]