2005/05/25 by Helmut Rathgen, Mikhail I. Katsnelson, Olle Eriksson +1 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.other
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.72.014451
14 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B
arxiv created 2005/05/25 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
The polar magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) for low-symmetric ferromagnetic crystals is investigated theoretically based on first-principle calculations of optical conductivities and a transfer matrix approach for the electrodynamics part of the problem. Exact average magneto-optical properties of polycrystals are described, taking into account realistic models for the distribution of domain orientations. It is shown that for low-symmetric ferromagnetic single crystals the MOKE is determined by an interplay of crystallographic birefringence and magnetic effects. Calculations for single and bi-crystal of hcp 11-20 Co and for a polycrystal of CrO2 are performed, with results being in good agreement with experimental data.