Dependence of femtosecond time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr rotation on the direction of polarization of the probe beam

We demonstrate that the femtosecond time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr rotation oscillates with the direction of polarization of the probe beam when a sample of Al0.25Ga0.75As/GaAs multi-quantum wells is excited by a circularly polarized pump and detected by a linearly polarized probe at wavelengths from 800 to 830 nm. Analytical expressions are derived to explain the mechanism, which is in good agreement with the numerical computation and the experimental data. The results suggest that the Kerr signal can be enhanced by choosing an optimal direction of polarization, which is of benefit to the measurement of the weak Kerr rotation.