Origin of magneto-optical signal changes in 2D magnets

Ascertain whether observed variations in magneto-optic Kerr effect and magnetic circular dichroism amplitudes in two-dimensional magnets are caused by changes in magnetization, changes in magneto-optical strength, or structural effects, by quantitatively decoupling these contributions in experiments and models.

Background

Magneto-optical techniques like the magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) are widely used to probe magnetism in 2D materials due to strong excitonic resonances that enhance optical responses.

However, the strong light–matter coupling and possible structural variations (e.g., stacking changes, defects) can alter optical signals independently of magnetic order, making it necessary to separate magnetization changes from intrinsic magneto-optical efficiency and structural factors.