Studies of some magneto-optical properties of ferromagnetic films

Abstract

This thesis deals with the detection and measurement of the Faraday and Voigt effects in monocrystalline (110) films of ferromagnetic nickel. The Faraday and Voigt rotations were measured as a function of four parameters: applied field, specimen thickness, wavelength and polarization azimuth of the incident light. Nickel films were grown epitaxially on a monocrystalline copper layer deposited on rock salt. The specimens were selected, using optical and electron microscopy, to be as near as possible to the theoretical ideal of pure, parallel-sided, monocrystalline films. The thickness of each specimen was measured using a multiple beam Fizeau fringe technique. The magneto-optical rotations were measured using a photoelectric polarimeter, accurate to [one-sixth] of arc, which is described6later in the thesis. The saturation dispersion and azimuthal behaviour of the Faraday and Voigt effects are discussed and compared with available theory.