Enhanced magnetic mirror

Claim 2

In combination: a substrate; means for producing a predetermined amount of reflectivity disposed on a surface of said substrate; a semi-transparent layer of magneto-optical material disposed over a surface of said reflectivity producing means, said magneto-optical layer having a predetermined thickness; means, disposed over a surface of the semi-transparent layer of magneto-optical material, for enhancing the reflectivity of said surface of said magneto-optical layer; and wherein the predetermined thickness of the magneto-optical layer is different from the thickness required to provide phase equalization between waves reflected from an outer surface of the reflectivity enhancing means, the surface of the magneto-optical layer and the surface of the reflectivity producing means, with the reflectivity enhancing means and the reflectivity producing means being selected to provide such phase equalization.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein: said reflectivity producing means comprise a multiple layer dielectric stack deposited on said substrate.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein: said reflectivity producing means comprise a metal layer disposed over said substrate and a plurality of alternating dielectric layer pairs disposed over said metal layer.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 wherein: said reflectivity enhancing means comprise a multiple layer dielectric stack.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 wherein: said multilayer dielectric stack comprises alternating layers of ZnS and ThF 4 .

Claim 7

The combination of claim 4 wherein: said multilayer dielectric stack comprises alternate layers of TiO 2 and SiO 2 .

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 further comprising: means for producing a magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of said magneto-optical layer.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1 wherein: said magneto-optical layer comprises a permanently magnetized ferromagnetic material.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 8 wherein: said ferromagnetic material comprises MnBi magnetized substantially perpendicular to the film plane.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 1 wherein: said magneto-optical layer comprises a thin film having an optical thickness of less than a quarter wave.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 10 further providing: means for increasing the apparent optical thickness of said thin film.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 11 wherein: said reflectivity producing means comprise a multi-layer dielectric stack.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 12 wherein: said thickness increasing means are incorporated into said dielectric stack.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 10 wherein: the thickness of said magneto-optical layer is approximately 300 Å.

Claim 16

The combination recited in claim 1 wherein the reflectivity producing means comprises a plurality of layers of dielectric materials, one of such plurality of dielectric layers having disposed thereon the layer of magneto-optical material, such one of the dielectric layers having a thickness selected to provide a predetermined phase to the waves reflected from the surface of the reflectivity producing means.

Claim 17

In combination: means for producing a predetermined amount of reflectivity; a semi-transparent layer of magneto-optical material disposed over a surface of said reflectivity producing means, waves entering the magneto-optical layer through a first surface thereof propagating through the magneto-optical layer, reflecting from the surface of the reflectivity producing means, re-propagating through the magneto-optical layer and exiting the layer through the first surface, said entering and exiting waves having a predetermined phase shift therebetween, said magneto-optical layer having a predetermined thickness selected to provide said predetermined phase shift; means, disposed over the first surface of the semi-transparent layer of magneto-optical material, for enhancing the reflectivity of the first surface of the magneto-optical layer; and wherein the reflectivity enhancing means and the reflectivity producing means are selected to equalize the phase between said exiting waves, waves reflected from the first surface of the magneto-optical layer, and waves reflected from an outer surface of the reflectivity enhancing means, with the predetermined thickness of the magneto-optical layer being different from the thickness required to equalize said phase.

Claim 18

In combination: means for producing a predetermined amount of reflectivity; a semi-transparent layer of magneto-optical material disposed over a surface of said reflectivity producing means, waves entering the magneto-optical layer through a first surface thereof propagating through the magneto-optical layer, reflecting from the surface of the reflectivity producing means, re-propagating through the magneto-optical layer and exiting the layer through the first surface, said entering and exiting waves having a predetermined phase shift therebetween, said magneto-optical layer having a predetermined thickness selected to provide said predetermined phase shift; means, disposed over the first surface of the semi-transparent layer of magneto-optical material, for enhancing the reflectivity of the first surface of the magneto-optical layer; and wherein the reflectivity enhancing means and the reflectivity producing means are selected to equalize the phase between said exiting waves, waves reflected from the first surface of the magneto-optical layer, and waves reflected from an outer surface of the reflectivity enhancing means, with the predetermined thickness of the magneto-optical layer being different from the thickness required to equalize said phase.