ORIGIN OF GIANT MAGNETORESISTANCE - BULK OR INTERFACE SCATTERING

Calculations of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) of Co/Cu (001) multilaye rs are presented. Starting from density functional theory the electron ic structure of the multilayer is described by means of a new Green's function method. Scattering of superlattice wave functions at delta-li ke scatterers is considered. It will be shown that due to the existenc e of quantum well and interface states in multilayers GMR is strongly affected by scattering centers at the interface. Results for a multila yer with a Cu thickness corresponding to the first antiferromagnetic m aximum of the interlayer exchange coupling are discussed in detail.