<i>Ab initio</i>calculations of magnetotransport for magnetic multilayers

Abstract

We have used the spin-polarized relativistic screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method for layered systems together with the Kubo-Greenwood formalism and the coherent-potential approximation to describe electrical transport properties of magnetic multilayers. We are able to calculate resistivities and magnetoresistance of model structures with no adjustable parameters by simultaneously determining contributions to the giant magnetoresistance of multilayers coming from both the electronic structure and spin-dependent scattering off impurities.