Non-conformal interface roughness effects on the giant magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers

We study interface roughness effects on the giant magnetoresistance in magn etic multilayers with non-conformal correlated interfaces. The roughness of each interface is characterized by the roughness exponent II (0 less than or equal to N < 1), inplane correlation length xi, and rms roughness amplit ude Delta. It is shown that the magneto resistance depends on all the rough ness parameters: Delta, H and xi. The case where the roughness parameters o f consecutive interfaces are different due to cross-correlations is also st udied. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.