A theoretical study of the magneto-optical Kerr effect in FeX (X=Co,Ni,Pd,Pt)

Abstract

The magneto-optical (MO) Kerr effect of FeX compounds with X=Co, Ni, Pd, Pt is studied theoretically using self-consistent band structure calculations. The MO spectra so determined agree with experimental Kerr spectra in overall shape but not in magnitude, the latter being slightly underestimated for FeCo and overestimated for FePd and FePt. The trend in the spectra for FeNi, FePd and FePt is explored and by investigating the effect of different crystal structures for FeCo and FePd the authors demonstrate that the Kerr spectrum depends sensitively on the local atomic environment of the Fe and Pd or Co atoms. Their calculations suggest that the computed spectra are those of highly ideal samples, which only approximately possess the atomic characteristics of the surfaces and bulk of real polycrystalline samples.