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We report on magneto-optical studies of the quasi-two-dimensional van der Waals antiferromagnet FePS

Magnetic layered materials have emerged recently as promising systems to introduce magnetism in structures based on two-dimensional (2D) materials and to investigate exotic magnetic ground states in the 2D limit. In this work, we apply high hydrostatic pressures up to

We report synthesis of single crystalline NaMnAs, confirm its antiferromagnetic order and characterise the sample by photoemission spectroscopy. The electronic structure was studied using optical transmittance, x-ray and ultraviolet spectroscopy and by theoretical modeling using local density approximation (LDA) extended to LDA+U when Heisenberg model parameters were determined. Optical transmittance measurement have confirmed the theoretical predictions that NaMnAs is a semiconductor. Also the N\'eel temperature was closer determined for the first time from temperature dependence of magnetization, in agreement with our Monte Carlo simulations., Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures

Magnetic layered materials have emerged recently as promising systems to introduce magnetism in structures based on two-dimensional (2D) materials and to investigate exotic magnetic ground states in the 2D limit. In this work, we apply high hydrostatic pressures up to P = 8.7 GPa to the bulk layered antiferromagnet FePS$_3$ to tune the collective lattice excitations (phonons) in resonance with magnetic excitations (magnons). Close to P = 4 GPa, the magnon-phonon resonance is achieved and the strong coupling between these collective modes leads to the formation of new quasi-particles, the magnon-polarons, evidenced in our low temperature Raman scattering experiments by a particular avoided crossing behavior between the phonon and the doubly degenerate antiferromagnetic magnon. At the pressure-induced magnon-phonon resonance, three distinct coupled modes emerge. As it is mainly defined by intralayer properties, we show that the energy of the magnon is nearly pressure independent. We additionally apply high magnetic fields up to B = 30 T to fully identify and characterize the magnon excitations, and to explore the different magnon-polaron regimes for which the phonon has an energy lower-, equal to-, or higher- than the magnon energy. The description of our experimental data requires introducing a phonon-phonon coupling not taken into account in actual calculations., Comment: 11 pages + 6 pages of supplementary materials

We report the observation of gyromagnetic and bi-gyrotropic properties in magneto-optical nanostructures. Anomalous s-polarized transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect is observed in magneto-optical Mie resonators and split ring resonators, featuring giant gyrotropic permeability tensors at the near infrared.

The concept of Berry phase and Berry curvature has become ubiquitous in solid state physics as it relates to variety of phenomena, such as topological insulators, polarization, and various Hall effects. It is well known that large Berry curvatures arise from close proximity of hybridiz-ing bands, however, the vectorial nature of the Berry curvature is not utilized in current research. On bulk bcc Fe, we demonstrate the flow of the Berry curvature vector field which features not only monopoles but also higher dimensional structures with its own topological features. They can provide a novel unique view on the electronic structure in all three dimensions. This knowledge is also used to quantify particular contributions to the intrinsic anomalous Hall effect in a simple analytical form.

Hexagonal rare-earth manganese oxide YMnO3 thin films were prepared on yttria-stabilized zirconia (111) substrates by metal organic decomposition method. The crystallinity and morphology of YMnO3 thin films crystallized at various temperatures were examined by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy measurements, respectively. Single phase YMnO3 was obtained for the sample prepared by annealing temperatures of 950 °C. AFM analysis revealed that a smooth surface with a roughness of 0.15 nm was achieved for YMnO3 thin film annealed at 950 °C and 1000 °C, while three-dimensional growth for other samples prepared at 750–900 °C, 1050 °C, and 1100 °C. A narrow band at 1.6 eV and a broad band at 5 eV due to electronic transitions in the manganese and oxygen bands were observed in an absorption spectrum.

Unlike ferromagnetic materials, ferrimagnetic metals have recently received considerable attention due to their bulk perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, low net magnetization and tunable magnetic properties. This makes them perfect candidates for the research of recently discovered spin-torque related phenomena. Among other ferrimagnetic metals, GdFe has an advantage in relatively large magnetic moments in both sublattices and tunability of compensation point above the room temperature by small changes in its composition. We present a systematic study of optical and magneto-optical properties of amorphous GdxFe(100-x) thin films of various compositions (x = 18.3, 20.0, 24.7, 26.7) prepared by DC sputtering on thermally oxidized SiO2 substrates. A combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry and magneto-optical spectroscopy in the photon energy range from 1.5 to 5.5 eV with advanced theoretical models allowed us to deduce the spectral dependence of complete permittivity tensors across the compensation point. Such information is important for further optical detection of spin related phenomena driven by vicinity of compensation point in nanostructures containing GdFe.

To obtain a material exhibiting magnetically induced reorientation (MIR), one of the magnetic shape memory effects, a well-developed method for single crystal growth is crucial. A [ 100 ] oriented Ni2MnGa single crystal exhibiting MIR was successfully prepared using the floating-zone technique with a high speed of 80 mm/h. The comparison with a sample grown by Bridgman method and a reference sample grown in AdaptaMat Ltd. by directional solidification is provided based on elemental homogeneity, crystallographic quality by x-ray diffraction, transformation behaviour and magnetic properties. All these methods indicated that the single crystal grown by floating zone with high speed is comparable or superior to the samples prepared by other methods. Importantly, the magnetization measurement revealed that the single crystal prepared this way exhibits MIR down to 10 K.

We report on an infrared magneto-spectroscopy study of Pb$_{1-x}$Sn$_x$Se, a topological crystalline insulator. We have examined a set of samples, all in the inverted regime of electronic bands, with the tin composition varying from $x=0.2$ to $0.33$. Our analysis shows that the observed response, composed of a series of interband inter-Landau level excitations, can be interpreted and modelled using the relativistic-like Hamiltonian for three-dimensional massive Dirac electrons, expanded to include diagonal quadratic terms that impose band inversion. In our data, we have not found any clear signature of massless electron states that are present on the surface of Pb$_{1-x}$Sn$_x$Se crystals in the inverted regime. Reasons for this unexpected result are discussed., 11 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. B

The Heusler compound ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{FeAl}}_{0.5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{0.5}$ is an interesting material for spintronic applications due to its predicted half-metal ferromagnetic character with a large band gap in the minority states. In this work, we present the optical and magneto-optical properties of a ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{FeAl}}_{0.5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{0.5}$ bulk sample at room temperature. The spectral permittivity is found to be dominated by an absorption peak at 1.4 eV, originating mostly from absorptions by minority electrons. The best agreement between the experimentally obtained spectral permittivity tensor and the ab initio calculated one is for the local density approximation potential, closely followed by the generalized gradient approximation potential. However, the half-metallic ferromagnet character with $100%$ spin polarization is preserved only in calculations employing the Coulomb interaction correction (+U). This suggests that ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{FeAl}}_{0.5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{0.5}$ is probably not a half metal as a single minority $d$-band dips below the Fermi level.

The hybridization of magnons (spin waves) with phonons, if sufficiently strong and comprising long wavelength excitations, may offer a new playground when manipulating the magnetically ordered systems with light. Applying a magnetic field to a quasi-2D antiferromagnet, FePS3, we tune the magnon-gap excitation towards coincidence with the initially lower-in-energy phonon modes. Hybrid magnon-phonon modes, the magnon polarons are unveiled with demonstration of a pronounced avoided crossing between the otherwise bare magnon and phonon excitations. The magnon polarons in FePS3 are primary traced with Raman scattering experiments, but, as we show, they also couple directly to terahertz photons, what evokes their further explorations in the domain of antiferromagnetic optospintronics., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures and Supplementary Materials, to be published in Phys. Rev. B

Dielectric Mie nanoresonators showing strong light-matter interaction at the nanoscale may enable new functionality in photonic devices. Recently, strong magneto-optical effects have been observed in magneto-optical nanophotonic devices due to the electromagnetic field localization. However, most reports so far have been focused on the enhancement of conventional magneto-optical effects. Here, we report the observation of circular displacement current induced anomalous magneto-optical effects in high-index-contrast Si/Ce:YIG/YIG/SiO2 Mie resonators. In particular, giant modulation of light intensity in transverse magnetic configuration up to 6.4 % under s-polarized incidence appears, which is non-existent in planar magneto-optical thin films. Apart from that, we observe a large rotation of transmitted light polarization in the longitudinal magnetic configuration under near normal incidence conditions, which is two orders of magnitude higher than for a planar magneto-optical thin film. These phenomena are essentially originated from the unique circular displacement current when exciting the magnetic resonance modes in the Mie resonators, which changes the incident electric field direction locally. Our work indicates an uncharted territory of light polarization control based on the complex modal profiles in all-dielectric magneto-optical Mie resonators and metasurfaces, which opens the door for versatile control of light propagation by magnetization for a variety of applications in vectoral magnetic field and biosensing, free space non-reciprocal photonic devices, magneto-optical imaging and optomagnetic memories.

Ferrimagnetic garnets are promising materials for applications in integrated non-reciprocal devices due to their low optical absorption and relatively large magneto-optical response at telecommunication wavelengths. However, their implementation into phonotic chips is rather difficult due to large lattice parameters and thermal expansion mismatch with common photonic substrates. In this talk, we present our latest progress in the growth, fabrication and characterization of various ferrimagnetic iron garnets on silicon substrates with excellent optical and magnetooptical properties expressed in terms of high Figure of Merit.

The Heusler compound Co$_2$MnSi provides a crystallographic transition from B2 to L2$_1$ structure with increasing annealing temperature $T_a$, being a model system for investigating the influence of crystallographic ordering on structural, magnetic, optic, and magnetooptic (MO) properties. Here, we present quadratic magnetooptic Kerr effect (QMOKE) spectra depending on $M^2$ in addition to the linear magnetooptic Kerr effect (LinMOKE) spectra being proportional to $M$, both in the extended visible spectral range of light from 0.8\,eV to 5.5\,eV. We investigated a set of Co$_2$MnSi thin films deposited on MgO(001) substrates and annealed from 300$^\circ$C to 500$^\circ$C. The amplitude of LinMOKE and QMOKE spectra scales linearly with $T_a$, and this effect is well pronounced at the resonant peaks below 2.0\,eV of the QMOKE spectra. Furthermore, the spectra of the MO parameters, which fully describe the MO response of Co$_2$MnSi up to the second order in $M$, are obtained dependend on $T_a$. Finally, the spectra are compared to ab-initio calculations of a purely L2$_1$ ordered Co$_2$MnSi Heusler compound., 4 pages, 3 figures, supplemental pdf, supplemental data files

Giant magnetic-field-induced strain up to 12% in Ni–Mn–Ga single crystal is due to magnetically-induced reorientation of the twinned martensitic low symmetry crystal structure. An important interplay is arising from the interaction between ferroelastic domains (twin domains) and magnetic domains. Here, we studied the magnetic domains in an Ni50Mn28Ga22 single crystal exhibiting 6% strain by using a magneto-optical indicator film and for the first time also directly by the Kerr magneto-optical microscopy. To compare the magnetization behavior of bulk and surface, we measured the magnetization loops by the Kerr effect (MOKE) and by the vibrating sample magnetometry. We demonstrate that using a particular arrangement of the Kerr microscopy enables visualizing the magnetic domains structure and its evolution in the magnetic field.

Polycrystalline Ce:YIG thin films deposited on silicon are promising material candidates for integrated nonreciprocal photonic devices. So far, the reported Faraday rotation of polycrystalline Ce:YIG thin films on silicon is much lower than that of their single crystal or epitaxial thin film counterparts, limiting the magneto-optical figure of merit, device bandwidth and fabrication tolerance. In this paper, we report the growth of Ce:YIG thin films on silicon from targets with high Ce concentration up to nominally Y 1.5 Ce 1.5 Fe 5 O 12 by pulsed laser deposition. The polycrystalline Y 1.5 Ce 1.5 Fe 5 O 12 thin film showed pure garnet phase, smooth surface roughness of 0.7 nm, a dominant Ce 3+ valence state and a bulk-like saturation magnetization of 125 emu/cm 3 at room temperature. This material shows high Faraday rotation of −6410 deg/cm at 1550 nm wavelength, exceeding that of an Y 2 Ce 1 Fe 5 O 12 epitaxial thin film on a GGG (100) substrate. However higher loss and lower figure of merit is also observed at 1550 nm wavelength compared to Y 2 Ce 1 Fe 5 O 12 thin films, possibly due to the low oxygen partial pressure during fabrication. Low deposition oxygen partial pressure is essential to enhance the Ce solubility and Ce 3+ concentration, which results in large Faraday rotation.

Permalloy is a widespread material used in numerous fundamental experiments and novel spintronic, optoelectronic devices. In order to model their response or tailor the optimal experimental parameters it is necessary to know the optical and magneto-optical properties of this material over a wide spectral range. We report on the systematic study of optical and magneto-optical properties of 10 nm and 150 nm thick permalloy films by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry and magneto-optical spectroscopy. To study the influence of the surface oxidization, the samples were prepared with and without Au capping layer. Spectral dependence of the complete permittivity tensor was derived from experimental data in a broad spectral range covering IR, visible and UV regions. All samples exhibited metallic-like optical and magneto-optical properties with clear differences in 10 nm thick bare sample. These differences to overall optical and magneto-optical properties of nanometer-thick permalloy layers were ascribed to a strong influence of the surface oxide. Keywords: Permalloy, Thin films, Spectroscopic ellipsometry, Magnetooptical Kerr effect spectroscopy, Complex permittivity tensor, Oxidation

Performance of CdZnTe-based detectors is highly related to surface preparation. Mechanical polishing, chemical etching and passivation are routinely employed for this purpose. However, the relation between these processes and the detector performance in terms of underlying physical phenomena has not been fully explained. The dynamics and properties of CdZnTe surface oxide layers, created by passivation with KOH and NH4F/H2O2 solutions, were studied by optical ellipsometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Thicknesses and growth rates of the surface oxide layers differed for each of the passivation methods. Leakage currents which influence the final spectral resolution of the detector were measured simultaneously with ellipsometry. Results of both optical and electrical investigation showed the same trends in the time evolution and correlated to each other. NH4F/H2O2 passivation showed to be a method which produces the most desirable properties of the surface oxide layer.

Influence of epitaxial strain and oxygen octahedra rotations on electronic structure of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2/3}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{1/3}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ ultrathin films was systematically studied. The investigated films were grown by pulsed laser deposition on four different substrates: cubic (001)-oriented ${\mathrm{LaAlO}}_{3}$, (001) ${({\mathrm{LaAlO}}_{3})}_{1/3}{({\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{AlTaO}}_{6})}_{2/3}$, (001) ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$, and orthorhombic (110) ${\mathrm{DyScO}}_{3}$, providing a broad range of induced epitaxial strains. Magnetic properties were found to deteriorate with increasing value of the epitaxial strain, as expected due to unit cell distortion increasingly deviating from the bulk and effect of the magnetically inert layer. A combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry and magneto-optical Kerr effect spectroscopy was used to determine spectra of the diagonal and off-diagonal elements of permittivity tensor. The off-diagonal elements at room temperature confirmed the presence of two previously reported electronic transitions in the spectra of all films. Moreover they revealed another electronic transition around 4.3 eV only in the spectra of films grown under compressive strain. We proposed classification of this transition as a crystal field paramagnetic Mn ${t}_{2g}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}_{g}$ transition. Ab initio calculations were employed to distinguish between the potential influence of oxygen octahedra rotations and distortions. The ab initio calculations indicated a negligible influence of oxygen octahedra rotations on magneto-optical properties of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2/3}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{1/3}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$. They further supported the proposed classification of the additional electronic transition, showing a key role of strain in controlling the electronic structure of ultrathin perovskite films.

Unlike ferromagnetic materials, ferrimagnetic metals have recently received considerable attention due to their bulk perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, low net magnetization and tunable magnetic properties. This makes them perfect candidates for the research of recently discovered spin-torque related phenomena. Among other ferrimagnetic metals, GdFe has an advantage in relatively large magnetic moments in both sublattices and tunability of compensation point above the room temperature by small changes in its composition. We present a systematic study of optical and magneto-optical properties of amorphous GdxFe(100-x) thin films of various compositions (x = 18.3, 20.0, 24.7, 26.7) prepared by DC sputtering on thermally oxidized SiO2 substrates. A combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry and magneto-optical spectroscopy in the photon energy range from 1.5 to 5.5 eV with advanced theoretical models allowed us to deduce the spectral dependence of complete permittivity tensors across the compensation point. Such information is important for further optical detection of spin related phenomena driven by vicinity of compensation point in nanostructures containing GdFe.

The magnetooptic Kerr effect (MOKE) is a well known and handy tool to characterize ferro-, ferri- and antiferromagnetic materials. Many of the MOKE techniques employ effects solely linear in magnetization $\bm{M}$. Nevertheless, a higher-order term being proportional to $\bm{M}^2$ and called quadratic MOKE (QMOKE) can additionally contribute to the experimental data. Here, we present detailed QMOKE spectroscopy measurements in the range of 0.8 -- 5.5\,eV based on a modified 8-directional method applied on ferromagnetic bcc Fe thin films grown on MgO substrates. From the measured QMOKE spectra, two further complex spectra of the QMOKE parameters $G_s$ and $2G_{44}$ are yielded. The difference between those two parameters, known as $\Delta G$, denotes the strength of the QMOKE anisotropy. Those QMOKE parameters give rise to the QMOKE tensor $\bm{G}$, fully describing the perturbation of the permittivity tensor in the second order in $\bm{M}$ for cubic crystal structures. We further present experimental measurements of ellipsometry and linear MOKE spectra, wherefrom permittivity in the zeroth and the first order in $\bm{M}$ are obtained, respectively. Finally, all those spectra are described by ab-initio calculations., Comment: 15 pages + references, , 15 Figures

An extensive experimental investigation of Fe-based Heusler alloys has been performed in order to potentially prepare new materials which are tetragonally distorted and have large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy crucial not only for the STT-MRAM applications but also for magnetic shape memory devices. Based on criteria demanded for the MSM applications 25 Fe2YZ various compounds were selected for the synthesis using arc melting from more than 60 systems suggested theoretically. Only four compounds Fe2MnSn, Fe2NiSi, Fe2NiGe, and Fe3Ga were homogeneous single phase. None of the studied Fe-based materials exhibited the predicted tetragonal structure. Magnetic measurements confirmed that all investigated compounds are soft ferromagnets with no sign of a structural transition. Our results contradict the ab-initio calculations showing the limits of theoretical predictions by incomplete high throughput calculations as well as the limitations of the standard synthesis techniques.

The X/Co 3 nm/Y (where X, Y = Au, Pt) trilayers with as deposited in-plane magnetization alignment were irradiated with 30 keV Ga+ ions in the wide range of ion fluence. The samples were investigated by means of complementary techniques: magneto-optical magnetometry and spectroscopy (in the photon energy range from 1.2 eV to 4.5 eV), magnetic force microscopy, positron annihilation spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and reflectivity. Difference in miscibility of interface atoms is clearly manifested in various intermixing extent at Co/Pt and Co/Au interfaces and consequently in magnetic properties of the irradiated trilayers. Low irradiation fluence (∼1014 ions cm−2) leads to ∼1 nm interfaces broadening without visible surface etching for all samples, which is related with a distinct drop of magnetic anisotropy. However, the high irradiation fluence (∼5 × 1015 ions cm−2) results in enhanced interface broadening and significant surface etching (∼5 nm) partially removing also Co atoms. Tensile strains (up to 0.5%) were developed in the cover layers. The tensile strain, layers intermixing and the creation of Co–Pt(Au) alloys with different composition formed by irradiation are correlated with the increase of magnetic anisotropy. Moreover it was observed that substitution of Au instead of Pt (as a cap or buffer layer) results in substantial increase of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Maximal increase of magnetooptical parameters was observed for Pt/Co/Pt layer. Irradiation induced changes of concentration profiles are revealed using magnetooptical spectra, x-ray reflectivity spectra and simulations with use of binary collision approximation.

Fe2MnSn compound was prepared in the form of polycrystalline ingot by arc-melting. In contrast to the theoretical predictions of stable tetragonal Heusler compound, the material crystallizes in a hexagonal DO19 crystal structure and orders ferromagnetically below TC = 586(10) K that is only about half of the calculated value of 1012 K. Magnetic moment 5.87 μB at 10 K is less or about in line with various theoretical predictions. However, electrical resistivity and optical studies reveal no signs of half-metallic behavior predicted theoretically. The change in the slope of the MOKE spectra below 1.5 eV suggests the main influence of a low energy inter-band transition which points to the loss of half-metallicity in agreement with resistivity and optical measurements.

Rare-earth iron garnet thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) have recently attracted a great deal of attention for spintronic applications. Thulium iron garnet (TmIG) has been successfully grown and TmIG/Pt heterostructures have been characterized. However, TmIG is not the only rare-earth iron garnet that can be grown with PMA. We report the growth, magnetic, and spintronic properties of epitaxial terbium iron garnet (TbIG) and europium iron garnet (EuIG) thin films with PMA. Reciprocal space mapping shows the films are lattice matched to the substrate without strain relaxation, even for films up to 56 nm thick. The lattice strain and magnetostriction coefficient produce PMA in certain cases. TbIG grows on (111) gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) with PMA due to the in-plane compressive strain, whereas TbIG on (111) substituted GGG (SGGG) is in tension and has an in-plane easy axis. EuIG grows with PMA on (100) and (111) GGG substrates, which facilitates the investigation of spintronic properties as a function of orientation. Both garnets have excess rare earth, which is believed to occupy Fe octahedral sites and in the case of TbIG is associated with an increase in the compensation temperature to 330 K, higher than the bulk value. Anomalous Hall effect (AHE) measurements of Pt/EuIG Hall crosses show that the spin mixing conductance of Pt/ (111) and (100) EuIG is similar. AHE measurements of Pt/TbIG Hall crosses reveal a sign change in the AHE amplitude at the compensation point analogous to all-metallic systems.

Tetragonal phase of CuMnAs progressively appears as one of the key materials for antiferromagnetic spintronics due to efficient current-induced spin-orbit torques whose existence can be directly inferred from crystal symmetry. Theoretical understanding of spintronic phenomena in this material, however, relies on the detailed knowledge of electronic structure (band structure and corresponding wave functions) which has so far been tested only to a limited extent. We show that AC permittivity (obtained from ellipsometry) and UV photoelectron spectra agree with density functional calculations. Together with the x-ray diffraction and precession electron diffraction tomography, our analysis confirms recent theoretical claim [Phys.Rev.B 96, 094406 (2017)] that copper atoms occupy lattice positions in the basal plane of the tetragonal unit cell., 5 pages, 5 figures + Supplementary Information

Erbium (Er 3+ ) doped ytterbium garnet (Er:Yb 3 Al 5− y Ga y O 12 ; y = 0, 0.55 and 1.1) single crystalline thick films have been grown by the low-temperature liquid phase epitaxy method (LPE). The composition of the films was determined using the high resolution XRD, the particle-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy (PIXE) and the particle-induced gamma-ray emission spectroscopy (PIGE). The lattice mismatch between films and substrates was investigated by the high-resolution X-ray diffraction. The surface analysis was carried out by the atomic force microscopy (AFM). Pure infrared emission of Er 3+ ions was observed in all films containing gallium. The characteristics such as refractive index, thickness and light propagation were studied by the m-line spectroscopy (MLS) using several wavelengths (633, 964, 1311 and 1552 nm). All samples, where y = 1.1, were multimode waveguides. For these reasons, the Er:Yb 3 Al 3.9 Ga 1.1 O 12 seems to be a promising material for light amplifiers in the IR region.

The validity of the Fourier factorization (FF) rules used in the constitutive relations in the Fourier modal method is analyzed for one-dimensional diffraction gratings made as a thin film with uniform thickness and several examples of continuous lateral profiles of permittivity. The comparison of the method using the correct FF rules with other FF choices demonstrates the validity of the FF rules for any inhomogeneous, not only discontinuous profile.

The rigorous coupled wave analysis is demonstrated by employing a recursive propagation algorithm based on an Airy-like internal reflection series, modified for a general cross-sectional distribution of permittivity. The method is capable of determining the electromagnetic field value at any point of the structure of any depth. Examples of simulation are presented on a nearly sinusoidal relief grating fabricated on the top of a Ni substrate.

Surface oxide formation was examined on low resistivity p-type CdTe single crystals immersed into distilled water held at 50 °C. The oxide thickness and roughness were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry, and its composition was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was observed that after the fast growth of thin oxide layer with the thickness 1.7 nm the growth of oxide layer is proportional to a square root of the immersion time. The oxidation was described by a model in which the oxidation rate is limited by the drift of positive Cd ions from the CdTe-oxide interface into water. The penetration of Na and erosion of CdTe immersed in saturated NaCl solution was investigated by secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements on samples treated in NaCl solution for different time intervals. Very low determined diffusion coefficient of Na was explained by trapping of Na on acceptor-type defects in Cd sublattice.

We review recent advances in optical and magnetooptical (MO) scatterometry applied to periodically ordered nanostructures such as periodically patterned lines, wires, dots, or holes. The techniques are based on spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), either in the basic or generalized modes, Mueller matrix polarimetry, and MO spectroscopy mainly based on MO Kerr effect measurements. We briefly present experimental setups, commonly used theoretical approaches, and experimental results obtained by SE and MO spectroscopic analyses of various samples. The reviewed analyses are mainly related to monitoring optical critical dimensions such as the widths, depths, and periods of the patterned elements, their real shapes, and their line edge or linewidth roughness. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the optical spectroscopic techniques compared to direct monitoring techniques.

We report on the temperature dependence of the magnetic and magneto-optical properties in cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Ce: YIG) thin films. Measurements of the Faraday rotation as a function of temperature show that the magnetic easy axis of thin Ce: YIG films reorients from in-plane to out-of-plane on cooling below -100 degrees C. We argue that the temperature-dependence of the magnetostriction and magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Ce: YIG is the dominant factor contributing to the change in easy axis direction, and we describe the changes in the magneto-optical spectra with temperature., National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award ECCS-1607865), United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Award FA8650-16-1-7641)