Interdiffusion and Crystallinity Effect in All-Optical Switching Phenomenon in Co/Pt Multilayers

In order to achieve helicity-dependent all-optical switching in ferromagnetic Co/Pt multilayer thin films, meticulous control over the thin-film parameters is needed. Even samples with identical deposition conditions and target thicknesses may exhibit different magnetic properties. This divergence may arise from subtle differences during deposition. In this work, we analyze the structural and magnetic properties of selected Co/Pt multilayers by means of X-ray reflectometry (XRR), X-ray diffraction, and magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) magnetometry. Through the mentioned experimental techniques, samples’ interdiffusion, crystallinity, and hysteresis loops can be characterized, providing insights into the relationship between these properties. Finally, we characterize whether the multilayers present all-optical switching by performing circularly polarized femtosecond laser pulse sweepings on them and imaging the results with MOKE microscopy during laser irradiation.