Theoretical investigation of giant magnetoresistance in metallic superlattices

Abstract The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) vs. interfacial roughness in sandwich structures Fe/Cr/Fe and Co/Cr/Co was calculated using the recursive formula for the dc conductivity under the perfect specular scattering at surfaces. A small magnetoresistance is obtained even in the case of no interfacial roughness. The major contribution to the GMR is from the spin-dependent interface scattering.