Magneto-Optic Scattering from Thin Solid Films

TLDR

Magneto‑optic scattering in multilayer structures is governed by linear off‑diagonal permittivity terms and assumes the magnetic medium is optically lossy. The paper develops a general theory for magneto‑optic scattering from multilayer structures and for media with arbitrary magnetization orientation. The theory is formulated using Fresnel reflection coefficients and magneto‑optic coefficients rsp and rps, and illustrated with a dielectrically enhanced thick magnetic film.

Abstract

A general theory for treating magneto-optic scattering (reflection and transmission) from multilayer structures comprised of magneto-optic and dielectric materials is presented. The two principle assumptions are: (1) Only terms linear in the off-diagonal element of the permittivity tensor are important. (2) The magnetic medium is optically lossy. The theory is cast in terms of the Fresnel reflection coefficients and the corresponding magneto-optic reflection coefficients, rsp and rps. The theory is illustrated by consideration of a dielectrically enhanced, thick magnetic film. Finally, a general formulation for scattering from a magneto-optic medium with arbitrary orientation of the magnetization is also presented.