Non-conformal interface roughness effects on the giant magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers

Abstract

We study interface roughness effects on the giant magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers with non-conformal correlated interfaces. The roughness of each interface is characterized by the roughness exponent H (0⩽ H<1), in-plane correlation length ξ, and rms roughness amplitude Δ. It is shown that the magnetoresistance depends on all the roughness parameters: Δ, H and ξ. The case where the roughness parameters of consecutive interfaces are different due to cross-correlations is also studied.