Interpretation of the magnetoresistance in multilayered structures

Abstract

Large ratios of the magnetoresistances for currents perpendicular to currents in the layer planes have been found in Co/Ag multilayered structures. We explain these by taking the zero-magnetization state, ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathrm{coercive}}$, in structures where the magnetic layers are nominally uncoupled, to be a superposition of statistically uncorrelated magnetic configurations. Also, we provide an interpretation for the magnetoresistance of Co/Cu and Fe/Cr by considering these multilayered structures to consist of, not only ferromagnetically and antiferromagnetically aligned layers, but also mixtures of the two that have zero magnetization.