MODELS OF GRANULAR GIANT MAGNETORESISTANCE MULTILAYER THIN-FILMS

Phenomenological micromagnetic and large-scale magnetization-dependent models of resistivity that produce giant magnetoresistance in granula r multilayer magnetic thin films are described. Included in the models are intralayer and interlayer scattering components formulated explic itly in terms of the microstructural properties and characteristic tra nsport lengths of the medium. The micromagnetic model provides insight into the influence of the magnetization distribution on the giant mag netoresistance response of the medium. The large-scale model which is derived from the micromagnetic model, is useful for obtaining media tr ansport parameters from experimental data. Both models are used to stu dy a set of annealed NiFe/Ag multilayer films.