Thickness and polarization dependence of the magnetooptic signal from ultrathin ferromagnetic films

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.39.6949· OSTI ID:6153747

Moog, E R; Liu, C; Bader, S D; Zak, J

Longitudinal Kerr-effect measurements using both s- and p-polarized light are presented as a function of thickness for bcc Fe films grown epitaxially on Au(100) in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). The motivation is to explore the origins of the magnetooptic response at Fe thicknesses comparable to the depth penetration of light. Special efforts were taken to optically compensate for the birefringence of the UHV window. The compensated measurements yield the magnitude of the complex rotation phi/sub m/ = (phi'/sup 2/+phi''/sup 2/)/sup 1/2/, where phi' and phi'' are the real magnetooptic rotation and the ellipticity, respectively. The results show linear initial increase of phi/sub m/ with thickness (up to the optical penetration depth) followed by a shallow peak and leveling off to a saturation value of the thick-film Kerr rotation. A review of the relevant theory includes the Faraday and Kerr contributions to the magnetooptic response. The Faraday contribution arises from metallic reflection from the substrate and passage back through the iron overlayer. We argue that the Faraday effect dominates the response in the ultrathin limit, while the Kerr effect controls the thick-film regime.

• Research Organization: Materials Science Division, Building 223, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439
• OSTI ID: 6153747
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 39:10; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
BCC LATTICES
CRYSTAL LATTICES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
CUBIC LATTICES
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
DIMENSIONS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
EPITAXY
FARADAY EFFECT
FILMS
GOLD
IRON
KERR EFFECT
MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
METALS
MONOCRYSTALS
ONSAGER RELATIONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLARIZATION
REFRACTIVITY
SUBSTRATES
THICKNESS
THIN FILMS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ULTRAHIGH VACUUM