AB-INITIO CALCULATIONS OF THE GIANT MAGNETORESISTANCE

Ab initio calculations are presented for the giant magnetoresistance ( GMR) of Fe/Cr multilayers. The electronic structure of Fe/Cr superlatt ices is calculated within the spin density functional theory. The spin -dependent bulk impurity scattering is treated in a fully quantum mech anical way using a Green function formalism. The transport is describe d quasiclassically. The calculations suggest that the GMR in thin mult ilayers is mainly determined by the electronic structure of the layere d system. Spin-dependent impurity scattering can reduce, increase, or invert the effect.