Abstract
When polarized light is incident on a magnetic material, the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) rotates the polarization and induces ellipticity in the reflected light, which allows the magnetization direction to be probed optically. The Kerr rotation and ellipticity determine the magnitude of the effect and are usually measured using dedicated ellipsometers. Here, we demonstrate a simple method for extracting Kerr rotation and ellipticity in magnetic thin films using a conventional MOKE magnetometer consisting of two polarizers and a quarter waveplate. Using this technique, we report the longitudinal Kerr angle of BiYIG, GdCo, and TbCo. We additionally observe a linear decrease in polar complex Kerr angle magnitude in 3 nm GdCo films as the atomic fraction of Gd is increased.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
