Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Implementation of a Reference Interferometer for Nanodetection
Published on: April 26, 2014
Modified Martin-Puplett interferometer for magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements at sub-THz frequencies
A Glezer Moshe1, R Nagarajan1, U Nagel1
1National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
Abstract:
We present a magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) spectrometer based on a modified Martin-Puplett interferometer, utilizing continuous wave sub-THz low-power radiation in a broad frequency range. This spectrometer is capable of measuring the frequency dependence of the MOKE response function, both the Kerr rotation and ellipticity, simultaneously, with accuracy limited by a sub-milliradian threshold, without the need for a reference measurement. The instrument's versatility allows it to be coupled to a cryostat with optical windows, enabling studies of a variety of quantum materials such as unconventional superconductors, two-dimensional electron gas systems, quantum magnets, and other systems showing optical Hall response at sub-Kelvin temperatures and in high magnetic fields. We demonstrate the functionality of the MOKE spectrometer using an undoped InSb wafer as a test sample.

