Kerr and Faraday microscope for space- and time-resolved studies

We present a multi-purpose scanning magneto-optical microscope for the investigation of magnetic thin films. The setup can be used for both static and time-resolved (pump-probe) measurements. It is moreover compatible with samples with arbitrary magnetic anisotropy, as it allows Kerr measurements in polar and longitudinal geometry as well as in transmission (Faraday geometry). We demonstrate that the microscope can be used in the following modi: (i) static imaging mode (in polar Kerr and Faraday geometry) with a spatial resolution of 1.7 μm; (ii) time-resolved mode (polar Kerr geometry) with a temporal resolution of 300 femtoseconds. Copyright EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014