Magneto-optic ellipsometry in exchange-coupled films

Analytical representations of Jones matrices for the magneto-optic (MO) reflection in (a) a magnetic film on a magnetic substrate separated by a nonmagnetic spacer and (b) two ultrathin magnetic film separated by a nonmagnetic spacer, sandwiched between a nonmagnetic cover and a nonmagnetic substrate with arbitrary and independent orientations of magnetization, are provided. Originally isotropic media subjected to a uniform magnetization are considered, The discussion of MO response is restricted to the terms linear in the off-diagonal permittivity tensor elements, and typical situations are illustrated numerically. The results are useful for the analysis of the experiments in MO ellipsometry and MO magnetometry of exchange-coupled magnetic ultrathin-film structures. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.