THE INFLUENCE OF INTERFACE STRUCTURE ON THE MAGNETOOPTICAL PROPERTIESOF CO PD MULTILAYERS/

Magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) spectra of Co/Pd multilayered struc tures (MLS), measured in the polar geometry over the spectral range 0. 8-5.5 eV, are presented and compared to spectra obtained from ob initi o band-structure calculations. It is shown that the MOKE spectra of th e Co/Pd MLS calculated using the spin-polarized relativistic linear-mu ffin-tin-orbital method reproduce the experimental spectra only modera tely well if ideal multilayer structures with sharp interfaces are ass umed. Calculations of the magneto-optical (MO) response of MLS with im perfect interfaces modelled by introducing ordered compounds at the in terface have also been performed. The results obtained reveal that the MOKE spectra of the Co/Pd MLS can be adequately reproduced using a mo del of limited interdiffusion within one or two atomic planes at the i nterface which results in the formation of a Pd-rich alloy. The role o f the Pd spin polarization in the formation of the MO spectra as infer red from first-principles calculations is examined and discussed. Fina lly, the influence of thermal annealing on the MO properties of Co/Pd MLS is studied both experimentally and theoretically. The good agreeme nt between the calculated spectra of the MLS and experimentally observ ed ones demonstrates the validity of the proposed models. The results obtained demonstrate the crucial role played by the interface microstr ucture in the formation of the MOKE spectra of the multilayered system s studied.