Abstract
<jats:p>The Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (MOKE) refers to the change in the polarization state of light reflected from a material when an external magnetic field is applied. MOKE-based instrumentation setup enables high-precision investigation of the magnetic properties of thin films relevant to contemporary applications in spintronics and nanotechnology. In this work, a MOKE measurement set-up of the polar configuration where the incident light is directed normal to the sample surface and parallel to the applied magnetic field was designed and assembled. Using this setup, magnetic hysteresis loops were measured along the (100) crystallographic direction of a 133-nm-thick bismuth-substituted Bi: YIG thin film epitaxially grown on a Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂ substrate. The obtained results demonstrate the capability of the constructed system for reliable characterization of the magnetic properties of magnetic thin films.</jats:p>