The role of the bulk spin-dependent scattering on the origin of the enhanced magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers

A detailed analysis of the current density distribution along the perpendicular direction of a spin-valve-like structure is presented. It is shown that, even when only bulk spin-dependent scattering is considered, the carriers responsible for the enhanced magnetoresistance in these systems are flowing in a narrow strip of the ferromagnetic layer close to the ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic interface. A modification of the bulk transport properties of this region affects drastically the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) of the overall structure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.