General Multilayered Structures Research Articles

Optimum design of multilayer-medium structures in a magneto-optical readout system

An explicit formula for the normal-incidence polar Kerr magneto-optical coefficient in a general multilayer structure consisting of a magnetic film and multilayers has been derived. The optimum condition of the multilayer-medium structure for maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio in the readout system is analytically derived by means of an equivalent bilayer treatment. For the case of the quarter-wave multilayer structure, numerical examples are given. It is shown that the optimization of both the multilayer structure and the readout optical components can greatly increase the signal-to-noise ratio in the readout system.

Longitudinal Kerr Magneto-optic Effect in Multilayer Structures of Dielectric and Magnetic Films

A simple but general expression for the longitudinal Kerr coefficient is derived for a general multilayer structure containing a single magnetic film. The expression is given in terms of well-known optical parameters of the system such as the ‘Potential Transmittance’ of the magnetic film. A number of special cases are considered and the expression is then used to establish the details of design of systems with much larger Kerr coefficients than previously predicted.