Should an e-mail application to a lab for a masters thesis include attachments, or should I wait for these documents to be requested? I would like to ask a researcher in a foreign institution to do my master thesis ( 5 months worth of research in Experimental Physics ) under his supervision.

I have written both a motivational letter and a short, coincise email stating what my intentions are. 

Should I only send the coincise email, and wait for them to ask me for a motivational letter + curriculum, or should i attach those to the mail?

Otherwise, would it be better if I wrote the motivational letter in plain text under the mail, so that if they want to read it they won't have to ask me for it? 

I know from my previous advisor that he often rejected such proposals if they were not coincise enough because he did not want to waste time. He told me that he mainly answer those who "tickle" his interest in few words, but I would like to hear more opinions.

Here is the short mail I was thinking of:


  Dear Professor, I am a graduate physics student at the University of
  QuantumState currently on my first year of my master.
  
  During my four years of studies I developed a keen interest in the
  peculiar laws that describe lower dimensional quantum systems,
  alongside a passion for the challenges that are encountered in the
  experimental study of such systems. I would like to dedicate my master
  thesis to an experimental study in this field, in particular, I would
  like to do so under your supervision in your research group. 
  
  Alongside my interest in the field ( and I know that your institution
  is one of the top research centers in the area ), I also have a strong
  personal desire of moving to Copenhagen: if during my stay you would
  find me a suitable addition to your group, I would be more than
  looking forward to apply for a Doctorate position at your institution.
  
  The timeframe allotted by my university for work on the master thesis
  is the period going from february 2016 onwards (usually 5 months). I
  know that it is very early, but to do the research in a foreign
  institution my university requires me to obtain a statement of intent
  from the external advisor long before.
  
  Attached you find a more throughout letter about my interests and Ideas, and my curriculum.
  
  Best regards,
  Me Myself
I do not know what the customs are in physics, but professors get requests like this a lot, and most of them feel like form letters (i.e., as if a student is sending out a bunch hoping someone will be interested).

If you want to get noticed, be very explicit as to why you are interested in this person and their lab, and if your desired research aligns with projects you know they are doing, say so with explicit references.  Your paragraphs above sound very generic, something you could have sent many places.

Also, please consider:
- if you are excited about a large project the professor is doing and would be happy to do a project for the professor that they need done, say so.  Typically, if you have an idea already, that might be less appealing than being interested in doing something that the professor wants/needs to be done.  Of course, having as specific interesting idea also shows you understand the area and the professors work.
- if you have funding and will not cost the professor anything, say so.  Oftentimes, professors don't have spare funding to pay for a visiting student (especially one they do not know) ever if they wanted to.
- I would somehow (perhaps in the longer document) give an indication of experience you have (don't just tersely list it on the resume).  A big question a professor would have is how much experience you have and how likely you are to be able to do something good in a short few months.

I would also definitely include the attachments of the long statement and resume in your first message.  If the professor gets through your note and is interested, they would probably appreciate knowing more about you before replying.

Remember: the most precious commodity to a professor is their time.  You need to convince them that the time they will invest in you is worth it.