| This thesis deals with the detection and measurement of the Faraday and Voigt effects in monocrystalline (110) films of ferromagnetic nickel. The Faraday and Voigt rotations were measured as a function of four parameters: applied field, specimen thickness, wavelength and polarization azimuth of the incident light. Nickel films were grown epitaxially on a monocrystalline copper layer deposited on rock salt. The specimens were selected, using optical and electron microscopy, to be as near as possible to the theoretical ideal of pure, parallel-sided, monocrystalline films. The thickness of each specimen was measured using a multiple beam Fizeau fringe technique. The magneto-optical rotations were measured using a photoelectric polarimeter, accurate to [one-sixth] of arc, which is described6later in the thesis. The saturation dispersion and azimuthal behaviour of the Faraday and Voigt effects are discussed and compared with available theory. |
