An optimized scheme for detecting magneto-optic effects in ultrathin films with Sagnac interferometry

Sagnac interferometry is advantageous in measuring time-reversal-symmetry breaking effects in ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic materials as it suppresses time-reversal symmetric birefringent effects that are ubiquitous and often overwhelming in optical detection systems. When its sensitivity is limited only by the amplifier noise in the photo-detector, one needs to optimize the optical power that returns to the detector. We demonstrate an experimental scheme that maximizes the returning optical power in a Sagnac interferometry when detecting the magneto-optic effect in ultrathin films. In this scheme, the optical beam bearing the Faraday effect on a thin film is reflected at a second surface coated with a highly reflective gold film. The gold film increases the returned optical power by a factor of 4-5. For a normal-incidence Sagnac interferometer, this scheme yields an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio by the same factor. For an oblique-incidence Sagnac interferometer, this scheme should yield an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio by a factor of 20-25. For illustration, this scheme is used to measure magnetization curves and Kerr rotation images of 4.5-unit-cell thick SrRuO₃(001) grown on SrTiO₃(001).