1993/09/01 by T. Valet, A. Fert · 8 citations
Physics and Astronomy · Mathematics · #Magnetic properties of thin films #Theoretical and Computational Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Condensed matter physics #Mean free path #Perpendicular #Scattering #Boltzmann equation #Magnetoresistance #Diffusion #Spin (aerodynamics) #Spin diffusion #Physics #Giant magnetoresistance #Boltzmann constant #Materials science #Magnetic field #Geometry #Mathematics #Quantum mechanics #Ferromagnetism #Thermodynamics
paper · doi:10.1103/physrevb.48.7099
openalex publication_date 1993/09/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02
By starting with the Boltzmann equation, we calculate the transport properties of magnetic multilayers for currents perpendicular to the layers. Our model takes into account both volume and interface spin-dependent scattering. We show that the macroscopic equations already used by Johnson et al. or van Son et al. are justified if the spin-diffusion length is much longer than the mean free path, even for individual layer thicknesses of the order of the mean free path. But, second, we show that Johnson's assumption of additive effects from independent interfaces in multilayers is incorrect and we obtain different results by taking into account the interplay between successive interfaces. The simple expressions derived for individual thicknesses much shorter than the spin-diffusion length are in agreement with the analysis of experimental results already proposed. It turns out that data on the perpendicular magnetoresistance can be used to separate clearly the volume and interface contributions to the spin-dependent scattering.