Oscillatory Magneto-Optical Effect in a Au (001) Film Deposited on Fe: Experimental Confirmation of a Spin-Polarized Quantum Size Effect

Abstract
Magneto-optical response of the wedge-shaped Au ultrathin film grown on an Fe layer was investigated precisely. The magnetic circular dichroism in the reflection configuration oscillates with respect to the Au layer thickness showing superposition of several oscillations with different periods. The energy dependence of the oscillation periods is clearly explained by a concept of the spin-polarized quantum size effect in the Au layer by employing fully relativistic band calculation and electron-electron correlation.