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Giant Magnetoresistance and Electronic Structure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Kees M. Schep
Affiliation:
Philips Research Laboratories, Prof. Holstlaan 4, 5656 AA Eindhoven, The Netherlands Faculty of Applied Physics and Delft Institute of Microelectronics and Submicrontechnology, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands
Paul J. Kelly
Affiliation:
Philips Research Laboratories, Prof. Holstlaan 4, 5656 AA Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Gerrit E.W. Bauer
Affiliation:
Faculty of Applied Physics and Delft Institute of Microelectronics and Submicrontechnology, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands
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Abstract

The electronic structure of magnetic multilayers is expected to play an important role in determining their transport properties. We explain how the conductance through a ballistic point contact is related to simple geometrical projections of the Fermi surface. The essential physics is first discussed for simple model systems and then realistic results for magnetic metallic multilayers based on first principles band structure calculations are presented. The electronic structure is shown to make an important contribution to the perpendicular giant magnetoresistance.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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References

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