Tandem magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometer for the study of quadratic effects

Abstract

It has recently been observed that strong quadratic magneto-optical Kerr effects (QMOKE) are present in cobalt-based Heusler compounds thin films. In this contribution we present a magnetometer dedicated to the study of QMOKE in magnetic thin films. The system consists of two MOKE magnetometers working in tandem, and is equipped with a quadrupole magnet which affords any in-plane field. The first magnetometer operates at an angle of incidence of 45°, and is sensitive to the combined longitudinal MOKE and QMOKE signals. In the second magnetometer, the light impinges on the sample at perpendicular incidence, and this magnetometer is thus only sensitive to the QMOKE component. Representative measurements illustrating the capabilities of this instrument are presented. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.