Design and performance of magneto‐optic enhanced Co/Pt‐based trilayers having zero Kerr ellipticity

The design philosophy and objectives for producing phase‐optimized trilayer structures for magneto‐optic enhancement of the polar Kerr effect is outlined. A number of alternative designs is presented based on glass/Co‐Pt/SiO2/Al. The performance of an actual device, as a function of the wavelength of the incident radiation, and of angle of incidence, for both of the principal polarization states, has been evaluated experimentally and theoretically. Results indicate excellent agreement and demonstrate the ease with which devices can be designed and fabricated.