Giant magnetoresistance of current-perpendicular exchange-biased spin-valves of Co/Cu

We present the first measurements of the specific resistance change, AAR, with increasing Co layer thickness, [t.sub.Co], of current-perpendicular (CPP) exchange-biased spin-valves (EBSVs) of Co and Cu. A[Delta]R grows about as predicted for a long spin-diffusion length in Co until about [t.sub.Co] = 20 nm, after which it grows more slowly than predicted. Possible reasons for this deviation from prediction are considered, including a short spin-diffusion length in Co. Index Terms: Giant Magnetoresistance; Magnetic Multilayers; Spin-valve.