Magnetoplasmonics provides unique possibilities for magnetic field control over light flow. A special interest in this field is attracted to magnetoplasmonic crystals (MPCs) that are nanostructured metal-dielectric materials with rich resonant spectra that can be tuned by a magnetic field. We show that MPC demonstrates enhanced nonlinear-optical effects such as optical second harmonic generation (SHG) and a giant nonlinear magneto-optical effect. Contrary to the linear-optical case, the main mechanism underlying the observed effects is the resonant enhancement of the local field achieved both for the surface-plasmon-polariton modes at metal/dielectric interfaces and for the waveguide modes in a dielectric slab, which provides an up to 25% magnetic field controlled SHG intensity variation. These effects are treated as an interplay of excitation of different modes that leads to Fano-type resonances in the nonlinear-optical response.

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We propose a perspective type of insulator-metal-insulator magnetoplasmonic crystal waveguide, composed of a gold grating placed between two garnet layers. Using an original non-perturbing method for the deposition of the upper magneto-dielectric layer, we fabricate the samples and provide experimental results evidencing the coupling of surface plasmon-polaritons propagating on the opposite Au/garnet interfaces. In contrast to traditional Au/garnet magnetoplasmonic crystals, spectra of the magneto-optical effect measured in transmission through this waveguide demonstrate rather specific features: a high-quality resonance for the long-range surface plasmon-polariton and a broad 60 nm wide resonance for the short-range surface plasmon-polariton. Our findings open new routes towards the development of high-sensitivity robust magnetoplasmonic sensors.

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Thin films of beryllium and gold that are several tens of nanometers thick were obtained, for the first time, on silicon and quartz substrates by the ion-beam method with tenfold alternation of deposition and partial sputtering of the nanosized metal layer. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopy indicate the predominant lateral growth of nanosized metal layers along the substrate surface. Optical spectra indicate the suppression of the localized plasmon resonance. The growth of the film occurs under the influence of the high-energy component of the sputtered metal atoms’ flux. The main role in the formation of the nanosized metal film is played by the processes of the elastic collision of incident metal atoms with the atoms of a substrate and a growing metal film. Metal films that are obtained by the tenfold application of the deposition–sputtering of a nanoscale metal layer are characterized by stronger adhesion to the substrate and have better morphological, electrical, and optical characteristics than those that are obtained by means of direct single deposition.