CALCULATION OF THE PERPENDICULAR GIANT MAGNETORESISTANCE OF CO CU(001) 2-DIMENSIONAL LATERAL SUPERLATTICES/

The results of quantum calculations of the current-perpendicular-to-li ne giant magnetoresistance (CPL GMR) of Co/Cu(001) two-dimensional lat eral superlattices are presented. They are obtained from an exact nume rical evaluation of the Kubo formula using the electronic structures o f Cu and Co monolayers described by s,p,d tight-binding bands. The cal culations show that the CPL GMR of two Co wires separated by N atomic lines of Cu is strongly dependent on the Co wire widths and can be as large as 110%. The CPL GMR of finite, perfectly periodic Co/Cu(001) la teral superlattices is found to saturate after 5-6 repeats of the supe rlattice unit cell and reach a maximum value of approximate to 350%. F inally, the giant magnetoresistance ratios of superlattices with fluct uating Co wire widths are evaluated and shown to increase linearly wit h total superlattice length and be of the order of 1000% after 25 repe ats of the superlattice unit cell.