Surface plasmon resonance effects in the Magneto Optical activity of noble metal-ferromagnet ultrathin films

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study elucidating the role of surface plasmon resonances in the enhancement of magneto optical activity. Au/Co/Au trilayers were grown on glass substrates by ultra-high-vacuum deposition and the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer was systematically varied between 0.3 and 10 nm. A comprehensive structural, magnetic and magneto-optical characterization of the different layers is provided. Simulations of both Kerr spectra and reflectivity were carried out using a transfer matrix algorithm applied to the multilayers.