Abstract
We report an experimental study which focuses on the magneto-optic interaction between light and perpendicularly
magnetized ferromagnetic thin-film multilayers. In this study, samples containing multiple Co/Pt interfaces are measured via the polar Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (MOKE).Thanks to a sample set with a continuous Co thickness variation, and single and double Co layered samples, interface and bulk contributions to the magneto-optic activity are
separately determined. Kerr rotation and ellipticity signals are recorded as a function of the Co thickness. The results are analyzed via a transfer matrix method that accounts for the standard optical and magneto-optic effects in multilayered thin-films. Bulk magneto-optic contribution of Co (QCo;bulk) that is in accordance with literature is consistently determined despite the use of thin-films. Interfacial Co (QCo;int:) and magnetized Pt (QPt) contributions are presented in terms of two models. Interface phenomena of the large spin-orbit coupling between Co and Pt and the proximity induced magnetization in Pt layer are represented in the models. The strength of interfacial magneto-optic activity is interpreted as an indicator of the relative interface quality among the samples.
magnetized ferromagnetic thin-film multilayers. In this study, samples containing multiple Co/Pt interfaces are measured via the polar Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (MOKE).Thanks to a sample set with a continuous Co thickness variation, and single and double Co layered samples, interface and bulk contributions to the magneto-optic activity are
separately determined. Kerr rotation and ellipticity signals are recorded as a function of the Co thickness. The results are analyzed via a transfer matrix method that accounts for the standard optical and magneto-optic effects in multilayered thin-films. Bulk magneto-optic contribution of Co (QCo;bulk) that is in accordance with literature is consistently determined despite the use of thin-films. Interfacial Co (QCo;int:) and magnetized Pt (QPt) contributions are presented in terms of two models. Interface phenomena of the large spin-orbit coupling between Co and Pt and the proximity induced magnetization in Pt layer are represented in the models. The strength of interfacial magneto-optic activity is interpreted as an indicator of the relative interface quality among the samples.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 163904 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Physics |
| Volume | 129 |
| Issue number | 16 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Apr 2021 |
Keywords
- Co/Pt multilayers
- Interface characterization
- proximity induced magnetization
- MOKE
- thin-film
- Magnetron sputtering
- magneto-optic efficiency