Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2012
We present a theoretical study of the combined effect of spin valve and anisotropie magnetoresistance in NiFe/Cu/NiFe layered thin films, using an extended form of the semiclassical Camley and Barnás Model for electron transport. The anisotropie magnetoresistance is treated by introducing spin-dependent anisotropie mean free paths in the NiFe layers. From calculations of both magnetoresistance effects as a function of NiFe and Cu thickness, we discuss the validity of a description of the combined effect in terms of a simple summation of spin valve and anisotropie Magnetoresistance.