Vicinal interface sensitive magneto-optical Kerr effect:: Application to Co/Au(322) -: art. no. 155411

Vicinal interface sensitive magneto-optical Kerr effect (VISMOKE) is predicted for ferromagnetic films deposited on stepped (e.g., vicinal) substrates. VISMOKE originates from the interference between optostructural and magneto-optical perturbations at stepped interface. The contribution of VISMOKE to total Kerr effect is calculated for any magnetization orientation and arbitrary incidence angle of light. Predictions on the variation of VISMOKE with sample rotation around its normal axis is probed by an ultrathin Co film deposited on a high quality Au(322) vicinal surface. The calculated optostructural interface perturbation is consistent with its experimental value.