Nonlinear magneto-optical Kerr effect study of quantum-well states in a Au overlaver on a Co(0001) thin film

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Groot Koerkamp, M. | Kirilyuk, A. | de Jong, W. | Rasing, Th. | Ferré, J. | Jamet, J.P. | Meyer, P. | Mégy, R.

Edité par CCSD ; American Institute of Physics -

International audience. We have measured the polar nonlinear magneto-optical Kerr rotation and the total generated second harmonic intensity from a perpendicularly magnetized Co(0001)/Au(111) thin film (6 ML) versus the thickness of a Au overlayer. For both experiments we find a clear oscillation with a period of about 13.5 ML. This behavior can be interpreted as arising from quantum-well states (QWSs) in the Au overlayer, though interestingly, the observed period is twice the expected one. Especially for the reflected intensity this oscillation is very pronounced: the intensity changes by a factor of 10 when the Au overlayer thickness changes from 7 to 13 ML. These strong effects make this nonlinear technique very suitable for the study of these QW oscillations.

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