There are three important properties to be noted that

(i) the Kerr signal is a linear function of the Kerr amplitude K and therefore of the respective magnetization components,

(ii) the Kerr signal can be enhanced by increasing the analyzer angle allowing to increase the signal-to-noise ratio and to adjust to the sensitivity of the detector, and

(iii) the visibility of domains is determined by the Kerr amplitude and not by the Kerr rotation.

In principle there are three different optical and magnetic geometries of the Kerr effect as shown in Figure 34.02.

Figure 34.02: Three different geometries of Kerr effect.

Polar MOKE: When the magnetization vector is perpendicular to the reflection surface and parallel to the plane of incidence, the effect is called the polar Kerr effect.