L-edge resonant magneto-optical Kerr effect of a buried Fe nanofilm.

The Fe L-edge resonant magneto-optical Kerr effect of a buried Fe nanofilm was investigated by rotating-analyzer ellipsometry and the results were compared with those from three theoretical simulations. The reversal of the Kerr rotation angle θK between the L3 and L2 edges, observed in the experiment, was consistent with classical electromagnetic simulation using empirical optical constants. The spectral θK feature was reproduced by the first-principles calculation of the KKR-Green's function method on the itinerant electronic system. The demonstration indicates that spectra of the L-edge resonant MOKE can be understood in terms of both the macroscopic and microscopic pictures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]