Interference Effects in T-MOKE Spectra of Fe Thin Films at the 3p Edges - Theory and Experiment

D. Leguta, M.F. Tesch b, P.M. Oppeneer c, H.-Ch. Mertins b, Ch. Jansing b, M. Gilbert b, A. Gaupp b, D.E. Bürgler d and C.M. Schneiderd,e aVSB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17.listopadu 15, CZ-708 33 Ostrava, Czech Republic bUniversity of Applied Sciences Münster, Stegerwaldstraße 39, D-48565 Steinfurt, Germany cDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, P. O. Box 516, S-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden dForschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany eFakultät für Physik and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), Universität Duisburg-Essen, D-47048 Duisburg, Germany

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We present combined first-principle calculations and experimental results of the transversal magneto-optical Kerr effect (T-MOKE) of thin Fe films across the 3p edges using linearly polarized synchrotron radiation. We show that the experimental T-MOKE spectra at the 3p edges of Fe exhibit clear signals that are strongly influenced by interference effects. Ab initio calculated T-MOKE asymmetry spectra confirm the importance of interference effects. The comparison of experimental with calculated spectra reveals some differences that we attribute to metal/metal interface roughness that is not taken into account in the calculations.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.127.466 PACS numbers: 75.30.Gw, 78.20.Ls, 78.70.Ck, 74.20.Pq