Thin metallic multilayer films have become an important part in today's computer technology. The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect, which plays a central role here, was discovered in the late 1980s. This can be essentially described as the effect of a magnetic field on the electron transport leading to significant changes in the resistance. Other aspects of multilayers systems, such as stability, growth, confinement are also addressed. Theoretical and experimental methods used in such work are described in some detail, with special emphasis on density functional and spin density functional theories. Magnetic anisotropy in thin films is also discussed while addressing unresolved issues and new results from exchange-bias experiments. * Discusses the GMR effect * What makes multilayers interesting and useful? * What are the latest discoveries in this field? * Simple insights in to the physics behind multilayers * Novel concepts at small length scales * Theoretical and experimental background.

Chapter 1. GMR in Metallic Multilayers -- a Simple Picture -- Chapter 2. Overview of First Principles Theory: Metallic Films -- Chapter 3. Thin Epitaxial Films: Insights from Theory and Experiment -- Chapter 4. Magnetic Anisotropy in Transition Metal Systems -- Chapter 5. Probing Layered Systems: a Brief Guide to Experimental Techniques -- Chapter 6. Generalized Kohn-Sham Density Functional Theory via Effective Action Formalism -- Chapter 7. Magnetic Tunnel Jusctions and Spin Torques -- Chapter 8. Confined Electronic States in Metallic Multilayers -- Chapter 9. Half-Metallic Systems: Complete Asymmetry in Spin Transport -- Chapter 10. Exact Theoretical Studies of Small Hubbard Clusters.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

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