Magneto-optical Scattering from Multi-layer Magnetic and Dielectric Films

The problem of the scattering (reflection and transmission) of light by multi-layer magnetic and dielectric films is solved by means of 4 2 4 characteristic (transfer) matrices. The characteristic matrices are calculated for either w or k taken as gyrotropic (skew symmetric) tensors having off-diagonal elements characterized by the complex, dimensionless, parameters p and q, respectively. Solutions are given for the polar, longitudinal and transverse orientations between the magnetization, the light propagation vector and the reflecting surface. Useful general results include the similarity invariants of characteristic matrices and the precise specification of minimum-equivalent multi-layer structures. A salient feature of magneto-optical scattering is the transfer of energy from two otherwise non-interacting polarization modes, namely modes with H perpendicular or parallel to the incidence plane, respectively. The conversion efficiency (conversivity) depends on two factors: (1) ohmic loss in the magnetic...