Electronic structures and magnetoresistance of Co/Cu/Ni/Cu superlattices with different Orientations

Electronic structures and magnetoresistance (MR) of pseudo-spin-valves structure (PSV) Co3/Cu3/Ni3/Cu3(1 0 0), Co3/Cu3/Ni3/Cu3(1 1 0), and Co3/Cu3/Ni3/Cu3(1 1 1) are studied using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method with generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) for the exchange correlation interactions. It has been found that the spin-dependence scatterings at interfaces are insignificant compared with the ones of the interior layers for the three orientation superlattices. Also, we evaluate the MR ratio by means of the two-current model, and find that the MR ratio of Co3/Cu3/Ni3/Cu3(1 0 0) (73.72%) is larger than those of structures Co3/Cu3/Ni3/Cu3(1 1 0) (68.38%), and Co3/Cu3/Ni3/Cu3(1 1 1) (67.09%).