Magnetic nanowire arrays: A study of magneto-optical properties

Abstract

Nanocomposite films of highly ordered magnetic nanowires embedded in anodic aluminum oxide templates were fabricated and magneto-optical properties were studied. Following our previous work, studies on Co nanowire arrays were carried out, where the MO properties in relationship with nanowire lengths and diameters were investigated. The results were found to be considerably different from corresponding bulk metal. We demonstrated that the Faraday effect was a convenient and useful probe for the study of the magnetic properties of these semitransparent nanocomposite films. A preliminary study on the photon energy dependence of the magneto-optical properties of Fe nanowire arrays was also conducted in the visible spectrum regime.