Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect enhancement methods for nanostructures

Abstract

Herein, the Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE) signal enhancement in nanostructures in investigated. It is well known that the MOKE signals of ferromagnetic thin films are enhanced with an additional dielectric layer due to multiple reflections. The MOKE signal is modulated with the additional dielectric layer thickness and is at a maximum when reflectivity is at a minimum. This is not always true in the nanostructures due to the contribution from the non-magnetic substrate portion, especially when substrate reflectivity is minimized and the dependence of the additional dielectric layer thickness for the nanostructure is changed in the case of the continuous thin film. We showed that the MOKE signal for nanostructures could be enhanced with a properly designed, dielectric layer in addition to the anti-reflection coated substrates. © 2009 Journal of Magnetics.