Building a Set-Up that uses Magneto Optic Kerr Effect (MOKE) and Magnetic Circular Dichroism (MCD) to measure Magnetic NanoSpheres

The Magneto Optical Kerr Effect refers to the change in the Kerr Angle due to a change in angle when the polarized light is reflected off magnetic materials. Similarly, Magnetic Circular Dichroism (MCD) measures the change in absorption between the right and left polarized light. In my work I learned how to operate and upgrade an experimental MOKE set-up, by adding MCD and Microscopy to the set-up. By adding these techniques we are better able to control the scan region, measure magnetic samples, and add another measurement technique to confirm data. We are using LabView to have control over the scan, fast steering mirror, and magnet in order to collect a signal. We will then measure a magnetic sample that has different amounts of nano-spheres in different region in order to see if the magnetic properties change with the number of layers of nano-spheres.