Transverse and longitudinal second-harmonic magneto-optic Kerr effect from Ni/sub 81/Fe/sub 19/ thin film structures

We report measurements of the second-harmonic magneto-optic Kerr effect in both transverse and longitudinal geometries from 100-nm-thick Ni/sub 81/Fe/sub 19/ films. For the transverse geometry, we observe intensity changes of roughly a factor of 3 upon magnetization reversal. In the longitudinal geometry, the second harmonic Kerr angle is 32.6/spl deg/ for s-incidence and 6.8/spl deg/ for p-incidence. A simple theoretical treatment allows us to compare the relevant second-order susceptibility elements as measured in the two geometries: the element magnitudes and relative phase shifts agree within experimental error.