ENHANCEMENT OF THE MAGNETOOPTICAL KERR ANGLE IN NONLINEAR-OPTICAL RESPONSE

Using an electronic theory we present calculations of the magneto-optical Kerr rotation angle in second-harmonic generation (SHG). For the longitudinal and polar Kerr configuration and for arbitrary angles of incidence it is found that the Kerr angle in SHG may be enhanced by up to one order of magnitude compared to the linear Kerr angle. This enhancement is caused by interband and intraband transitions (plasmons), which in the linear case suppress the Kerr rotation in the optical range. Our results will be useful for a microscopic study of two-dimensional magnetism.