Enhancement of the Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect in One- Dimensional Magnetophotonic Crystals with Adjustable Spatial Configuration

Abstract

We studied magnetophotonic crystals (MPCs) with introduced magneticdefect layer sandwiched between magnetic and dielectric Bragg mirrors. Thesemagnetophotonic crystals have excellent capabilities to enhance reflection and Kerrrotation simultaneously. By adjusting spatial configuration such as repetition numbersof Bragg mirrors and thickness of magnetic defect layer, we achieved the Kerr rotationangles more than 75˚ and reflection very close to 1. We briefly described theformulation of finite element method (FEM) and transfer matrix method (TMM). Theelectric field distribution and magnitude of it along the MPCs are simulated using FEM.Using the TMM, we calculated the MO responses of MPCs. With light localizationinside the magnetic defect layer and multiple reflections in it, the magneto-optical (MO)responses of these MPCs were significantly increased. The studied structures in thisresearch have high MO responses that make it suitable for designing MO elements inhighly sensitive devices and optical telecommunication tools.

Keywords

• magneto-optics
• magnetophotonic crystals
• reflectance
• kerr rotation
• defect layer