Magneto-Optical Readout from a Magnetized Nonspecular Oxide Surface

Abstract

This paper describes a magneto‐optical method for obtaining visual display and electronic readout of magnetic information recorded on a nonspecular oxide surface. A recorded oxide surface is placed in contact with a specular ferromagnetic surface, an external magnetic field is applied normal to the two surfaces in contact; and the recorded information is read out by means of the Kerr effect through the back of the specular surface. The method is a useful tool for studying defects in the writing process independently of the reading process in investigations of magnetic recording on oxide surfaces. It was observed that when the external field was applied, the magnetic pattern was either sharpened or caused to spread, depending on the polarity of the field.