Determining magnetization curves using optical second-harmonic generation

Magnetic second-harmonic generation (MSHG) allows the interfacial magnetism of centrosymmetric materials to be explored through thin capping layers. However, the variation of the MSHG intensity with magnetic field does not measure hysteresis loops directly, because the loops are displaced by an amount dependent on the crystallographic response and its phase difference with respect to the magnetic response, and also because there is a quadratic magnetization contribution to the SH intensity. Two new procedures are reported for extracting hysteresis loops directly from the MSHG intensity. The first is applicable to all magnetic interfaces, including exchange-biased structures, where the saturation magnetization for positive and negative magnetic fields is equal and opposite, while the second applies to all centrosymmetric hysteresis loops. These procedures correct for the quadratic response, allowing experimental geometries to be chosen that maximize the magnetic contribution, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

[1]  Theo Rasing,et al.  Influence of quadratic contributions in magnetization‐induced second harmonic generation studies of magnetization reversal , 2005 .

[2]  R. Miranda,et al.  Origin of the asymmetric magnetization reversal behavior in exchange-biased systems: competing anisotropies. , 2005, Physical review letters.

[3]  B. Diény,et al.  In-depth selectivity of the magnetic second-harmonic generation of light in a multilayer structure , 2004 .

[4]  K. Temst,et al.  Enhanced asymmetric magnetization reversal in nanoscale Co/CoO arrays: competition between exchange bias and magnetostatic coupling. , 2003, Physical review letters.

[5]  P. Georges,et al.  Probing interface magnetism in the FeMn/NiFe exchange bias system using magnetic second-harmonic generation , 2002, cond-mat/0211580.

[6]  T. Schmitte,et al.  Asymmetric magnetization reversal on exchange biased CoO/Co bilayers , 2002 .

[7]  M. Stiles,et al.  Coercivity in exchange-bias bilayers , 2001 .

[8]  Yashar,et al.  Asymmetric magnetization reversal in exchange-biased hysteresis loops , 2000, Physical review letters.

[9]  M. Straub,et al.  Surface Magnetism of Ultrathin γ -Fe Films Investigated by Nonlinear Magneto-optical Kerr Effect , 1996 .

[10]  John F. McGilp,et al.  Optical characterisation of semiconductor surfaces and interfaces , 1995 .

[11]  Rasing,et al.  Observation of large Kerr angles in the nonlinear optical response from magnetic multilayers. , 1995, Physical review letters.

[12]  Kirschner,et al.  Effects of surface magnetism on optical second harmonic generation. , 1991, Physical review letters.

[13]  Pan,et al.  Optical second-harmonic generation from magnetized surfaces. , 1989, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[14]  Theo Rasing,et al.  Magnetization-induced-second-harmonic generation from surfaces and interfaces , 2005 .

[15]  I. Schuller,et al.  Correlation between antiferromagnetic interface coupling and positive exchange bias , 2000 .