Dependence of the giant magnetoresistance in Co/Cu multilayers on layer thickness

Abstract

Observed oscillations in the saturation magnetoresistance of Co/Cu multilayers, as a function of the thickness of the Cu layer, are associated with corresponding oscillations in the coupling between Co layers. RKKY theory relates the period of oscillations (≈ 10 Å) to necks in the Cu Fermi surface. New data on the dependence of the magnetoresistance ΔR/R on the thickness of the Co and Cu layers is interpreted using an extension of our recent theory. © 1992.