We investigate the magneto-optic Kerr effect in perpendicularly magnetized Pt/Co/Ir/Cr2O3/Pt thin films, associated with the antiferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition of the Cr2O3 layer. The magneto-optic Kerr rotation angle (θ
K) shows oscillatory behavior as a function of the photon energy of incident light owing to interference in the Cr2O3 layer. The temperature dependence of θ
K at 2.67 eV (λ = 465 nm), at which the largest θ
K is obtained, shows a sharp dip at 287.0 K. This is similar to the reported Néel temperature for Cr2O3 thin films. Although the θ
K spectra measured at several temperatures are generally explained by the classical interference model, θ
K is enhanced at 2.36–2.79 eV (λ = 525–445 nm) close to the dip temperature. This peculiar enhancement in θ
K is discussed on the basis of the anomaly in the optical parameters of the Cr2O3 layer associated with the antiferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition.
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