Magneto-optical effects in nanostructures with reduced symmetry

Abstract

Theoretical part of this bachelor thesis is focused to the theoretical description of magneto-optical effects in reflection from structures with reduced symmetry. Using Yeh's matrix formalism, the appropriate formulae for the magneto-optical effect from semi-infinite orthorombic crystal is derived. The sensitivity of quadratic magneto-optical effects to crystal symmetry can be used for study of symmetries of the structures. Experimental part is focused on characterization of layers consisting of the ferromagnetic Co and Fe nanoparticles embedded in SiO$_2$ matrix. Magnetic properties were measured using longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effect. Magneto-optical hysteresis loop measurements show differences between Fe particular film with strong in-plane uniaxial anisotropy and Co one, which is almost isotropic. Nanoparticular film thicknesses and volume fractions of particles were obtained using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Ellipsometric data were fitted to the model based on the Bruggeman effective medium approximation.