Magneto-optic rotation and ellipticity of ultrathin ferromagnetic films

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.39.9496· OSTI ID:6116279

Moog, E R; Zak, J; Huberman, M L; Bader, S D

Magneto-optic rotation phi' and ellipticity phi'' values are reported as a function of thickness for 0--400 A of bcc Fe(100) epitaxially deposited on Au(100) for both s- and p-polarized He-Ne laser light. The values are derived from a formula that connects phi' and phi'' with our recently reported longitudinal Kerr-effect measurements of phi/sub m/ = (phi'/sup 2/+phi''/sup 2/)/sup 1/2/ and the parameters of two optical compensators that are used to convert ellipticity to rotation. The measurements were made in situ through an ultrahigh-vacuum window; our approach eliminates the effect of the window birefringence. The dominant contribution to phi/sub m/ reverses from being phi'' in the ultrathin limit to being phi' in the thick-film limit. Also, in the 0--30 A range, the rotation remains near zero while the ellipticity increases linearly.

• Research Organization: Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439
• OSTI ID: 6116279
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 39:13; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
BIREFRINGENCE
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EPITAXY
FILMS
IRON
KERR EFFECT
LASER RADIATION
MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLARIZATION
RADIATIONS
REFRACTION
THIN FILMS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS