PtMnSb, a material with very high magneto-optical Kerr effect

Results are reported of polar magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements performed at room temperature on the Heusler alloy PtMnSb in the wavelength range 280–2000 nm. The double Kerr rotation has a maximum in excess of 2.5° at 720 nm, which is to our knowledge the highest room-temperature Kerr rotation reported thus far for any material in the wavelength range under consideration. In order to assess the influence of composition the related materials PdMnSb, NiMnSb, and PtMnSn were also investigated. Here the Kerr effect was considerably lower.