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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

surface magneto-optic, Kerr effect, magnetometer, SMOKE

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Department

Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

The Kerr effect is a phenomenon in which as polarized visible light reflects off of a magnetized surface it experiences a small rotation in polarization. This is known as the Kerr rotation, denoted Δθ. This rotation is proportional to the magnetization of the sample, to a first-order approximation (Δθ∝M). The surface magneto-optic Kerr effect (SMOKE) is a subset of the Kerr effect which probes the magnetization of the surface of the sample. Since the samples measured by our SMOKE apparatus are as thin as 10 nm to 100 nm the surface magnetization equals the total magnetization. These samples can be used for magnetic recording or nanomedicine. The SMOKE method uses the Kerr effect to measure magnetization in the presence of an external magnetic field via a measurement of the Kerr rotation. A measurement of Kerr rotation while varying the applied magnetic field is a magnetization loop. My ORCA project was the development of a working SMOKE magnetometer, as well as the installation of an upgrade for our magnetic field.

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