Near-field magneto-optics and microscopy in resonant scattering of light from a linear nanoprobe

Abstract

A theory is presented for the polar near-field magneto-optical Kerr effect in scattering of light from a linear nanoprobe. In the framework of Green’s function technique, a solution is obtained for the problem of near-field magneto-optics and apertureless scanning microscopy of lateral magnetic inhomogeneities (domains) with nanometer scale. The probe in the form of a nanowire and the sample with a near-surface magnetic nanolayer are considered to support surface plasmons. Electromagnetic coupling between a nanow-ire and a sample surface (polarizability of the complex “probe plus image charges”) is taken into account self-consistently. Magneto-induced polarization of an ultrathin near-surface layer is treated within linear approximation in magnetization which is perpendicular to the layer. The polarization, spectral and angular characteristics of light scattering modulated by magnetization and resonantly enhanced by surface plasmons are examined. Dependence of the near-field magneto-optical response on the probe-domain distance along the sample surface is obtained. The resolution power of scanning near-field microscopy is estimated and the factors to influence it are pointed out.