TRANSVERSE AND LONGITUDINAL 2ND-HARMONIC MAGNETOOPTIC KERR-EFFECT OBSERVED FROM NI81FE19 THIN-FILM STRUCTURES

We report measurements of the second-harmonic magneto-optic Kerr effec t in both transverse and longitudinal geometries from 100-nm-thick Ni8 1Fe19 films. For the transverse geometry, we observe intensity changes of roughly a factor of 3 upon magnetization reversal. In the longitud inal geometry, the second harmonic Kerr angle is 32.6 degrees for s-in cidence and 6.8 degrees for p-incidence. A simple theoretical treatmen t allows us to compare the relevant second-order susceptibility elemen ts as measured in the two geometries: the element magnitudes and relat ive phase shifts agree within experimental error.