Spectroscopic polar magneto-optical Kerr rotation on Co/Pt interface

Spectroscopic magneto-optic (MO) Kerr rotation experiments have been performed on Pt/Co interfaces. This very sensitive experimental technique allows a precise chemical analysis of this interface. From these measurements, we deduced that the Co/Pt interface is formed of a disordered CoPt alloy layer and a spin polarized platinum atomic monolayer whose MO indices were calculated. In situ spectroscopic MO experiments have been performed during the Pt growth on the hcp Co (0001) layer. In situ postdeposition annealing were done on Pt/Co/Pt trilayers. In the 400-500 degrees C temperature range, the MO spectra show an important increase of the Kerr rotation, in particular around 370 nm, while the magnetic anisotropy goes through a maximum at 500 degrees C. These results are related to the formation of a CoPt alloy ordered along the (111) direction. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)03313-7].