Magneto-optical Kerr effect in L10 FePdPt ternary alloys: Experiments and first-principles calculations

Abstract

We have studied the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) of L10 Fe0.5(Pd1-xPtx)0.5 alloy films with both experiments and first-principles calculations. In the visible region, negative Kerr rotation and ellipticity peaks are, respectively, observed in the regions of 1.5-2.0 eV and 1.7-2.6 eV. These peaks are shifted towards higher energies, and their magnitudes are enhanced for larger x. The MOKE evolution is mainly ascribed to the anomalous Hall conductivity contributed by the spin-down d↓,x2-y2 bands from Pd and Pt. We established a close correlation among the MOKE spectra, the spin orbit coupling strength, and the band feature for this prototypical system. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.