Calculations of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) of Co/Cu (001) multilayers are presented. Starting from density functional theory the electronic structure of the multilayer is described by means of a new Green's function method. Scattering of superlattice wave functions at $\delta$-like scatterers is considered. It will be shown that due to the existence of quantum well and interface states in multilayers GMR is strongly affected by scattering centers at the interface. Results for a multilayer with a Cu thickness corresponding to the first antiferromagnetic maximum of the interlayer exchange coupling are discussed in detail.

• Received 12 September 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.4309