Finite-size effects in giant magnetoresistance: An ab initio calculation -art. no. 094408

We report the dependence of giant magnetoresistance on the number of bilaye r repeats in a Co/Cu (001) multilayer. Starting from spin-density functiona l theory, the electronic structure is described by means of a screened Korr inga-Kohn-Rostoker method for freestanding multilayer slabs. The in-plane t ransport is calculated solving the linearized Boltzmann equation in relaxat ion-time approximation. It is shown that the length scale on which giant ma gnetoresistance rises is not caused by the intrinsic finite-size effects of the multilayer slab, but by diffusive surface scattering.