Enhancement of magneto-optical effects in magnetic nanoparticles near gold-dielectric surfaces.

We report enhanced magneto-optical Kerr rotation in the layer systems of a magnetic granular film coated by uniform gold and dielectric films. The Kerr rotation spectra measured from 1.2 to 5 eV show a peak at about 2.7 eV, not present in either uncoated magnetic particle films. It was shown that the polar magneto-optical Kerr signal is about five times higher than that obtained for CoFe-MgO granular films in similar conditions. The physical nature of the magneto-optical effect enhancement in three layers (magnetic/noble/dielectric films) is related to the excitation of surface plasmons and their fast propagation on the interface of a complex three-layer structure. The Kerr rotation enhancement corresponds to intrinsic electronic transitions in the CoFe nanogranules due to the spectral overlap of these transitions with propagating surface plasmons.