Optical, magneto-optical and structural properties of Mn, Bi and MnBi in the form of thin films

Abstract

The optical and magneto-optical constants of MnBi were measured because of its potential as a medium for magneto-optical information processing. In addition, the optical constants of Mn and Bi were also measured since a knowledge of these constants can be useful for optically monitoring the formation process of MnBi. Thus it is desirable that values of the constants of MnBi and its constituents are reliable. An assessment is therefore given of the reliability of the constants in the literature based on the structural investigations of thin films of these materials.