Magneto-optical Effects Enhanced by Surface Plasmons in Metallic Multilayer Films

Magneto-optical properties of noble-metal-ferromagnetic-metal multilayer thin films have been investigated in the total reflection condition. The experimental and theoretical study of a Au/Co/Au model structure demonstrates that the resonant coupling of the $p$ component of the light electric field with the gold surface plasmons results in an enhancement of the magneto-optical response of the system, both in the reflected light and in the evanescent mode.