Magneto-optical diffraction by periodic lateral arrays composed of GMR structures of Pt/Co free layers having perpendicular magnetization

Abstract A first-order beam diffracted by periodic arrays of GMR structures consisting of Pt/Co free layers having perpendicular magnetization without a top electrode is investigated. Linear and two-dimensional arrays of various shapes having sizes of 10–50 μm and periods of 20–100 μm embedded in SiO 2 are fabricated. The angles of the plane of polarization for first or (1,0) diffraction spots at a wavelength of 633 nm are measured to be approximately 0.5° for all samples. The polarization angles for one- and two-dimensional arrays of magnetic patterns are studied theoretically by assuming that the structures have sinusoidal magnetic distributions. They are found to depend on the Kerr rotation angle of the Pt/Co multilayer and on the difference in reflectance between the Pt/Co and SiO 2 , but they are independent of the periodicities, sizes, and shapes of the patterns. On the other hand, the diffraction efficiencies due to the magneto-optical effect depend on the reflectance and Kerr rotation angles of the magnetic materials. The diffraction efficiency of the component arising from the magneto-optical effect is discussed.