Nonlinear magneto-optical Kerr spectra of thin ferromagnetic iron films calculated with ab initio theory

Using a spin-polarized full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital method we present calculations of the nonlinear magneto-optical Kerr effect for thin bcc Fe films within a slab geometry. Film layer dependent contributions to the Kerr spectrum are determined. Thus, we calculate the magneto-optical Kerr spectra for the linear and nonlinear case. Our results show clearly that the Kerr spectra of thin films are characteristicly different from those at surfaces of bulk materials. In the case of linear Kerr spectra of Au/Fe(bcc)/Au(001) films our theoretical results are in good agreement with observed frequency- and thickness-dependent spectra.