The optical and polar Kerr magneto-optical properties of a series of Co/Pt/
AlN multilayers have been determined in the photon energy range 1.4-4 eV. O
bservations of the spectral variation of reflectivity are discussed in term
s of the optical properties of the constituent materials using multilayer t
heory. Magneto-optic polar Kerr spectra over the same energy range are also
discussed taking into account the modified magnetic properties resulting f
rom undesirable structural changes in the films. (C) 1998 American Institut
e of Physics. [S0021-8979(98)44511-0].