Giant magnetoresistance in ultra-thin layers

Abstract

We consider the transport properties in magnetic ultra-thin multilayers for electronic current in the plane of the surfaces. In the case of ultra-thin films, the conduction electron transport behavior is influenced by the shape and the thickness of a sample. The boundary conditions at the surface and interfaces lead to the electric charge density distribution across a film. We discuss the influence of sample thickness on some electronic properties like the Fermi energy, distribution of electrons and their spin polarisation. We justify some parameters introduced to the model potential whose values for spacer and ferromagnetic metals depend on the layer thickness. In this aspect the present approach constitutes improvement of Hood-Falicov model for the case of very thin layers.