Concurrent enhancement of Kerr rotation and antiferromagnetic coupling in epitaxial Fe/Cu/Fe structures

Abstract

We report the observation of major enhancements in the magneto-optical polar Kerr rotation in the Fe/Cu/Fe system. These enhancements are as much as a factor of 2 greater than those anticipated due to recently reported plasma-resonance effects. A close connection between these enhancements and antiferromagnetic coupling between the two Fe films is established by the observation of concurrent oscillations in the magnitude of these two effects as a function of Cu thickness.