This dissertation focuses on projects where optical techniques were employed to characterize novel materials, developing concepts toward next generation of devices. The materials that I studied included InAsP, InMnSb and InMnAs, and BT-BCN. I have employed several advanced time resolved and magneto-optical techniques to explore unexplored properties of these structures. The first class of the materials were the ternary alloys InAsP. The electron g-factor of InAsP can be tuned, even allowing for g=0, making InAsP an ideal candidate for quantum communication devices. Furthermore, InAsP shows promises for opto-electronics and spintronics, where the development of devices requires extensive knowledge of carrier and spin dynamics. Thus, I have performed time and polarization resolved pump-probe spectroscopy on InAsP with various compositions. The carrier and spin relaxation time in these structures were observed and demonstrated tunability to the excitation wavelengths, composition and temperature. The sensitivity to these parameters provide several avenues to control carrier and spin dynamics in InAsP alloys. The second project focused on the ferromagnetic narrow gap semiconductors InMnAs and InMnSb. The incorporation of Mn can lead to ferromagnetic behavior of InMnAs and InMnSb, and enhance the g-factors, making them ideal candidates for spintronics devices. When grown using Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), the Curie temperature (textit{$T_c$}) of these structures is textless 100 K, however structures grown using Metalorganic Vapor phase Epitaxy (MOVPE) have textit{$T_c$} textgreater 300 K. Magnetic circular dichroism was performed on MOVPE grown InMnAs and InMnSb. Comparison of the experimental results with the theoretical calculations provides a direct method to map the band structure, including the temperature dependence of the spin-orbit split-off band to conduction band transition and g-factors, as well as the estimated sp-d electron/hole coupling parameters. My final project was on the lead-free ferroelectric BT-BCN. Ferroelectric materials are being investigated for high speed, density, nonvolatile and energy efficient memory devices; however, commercial ferroelectric memories typically contain lead, and use a destructive reading method. Reflectometry measurements were used in order to determine the refractive index of BT-BCN with varying thicknesses, which can provide a means to nondestructively read ferroelectric memory through optical methods. / Ph. D.

The interplay of experiments and theory is essential to deepen our understanding of magnetization dynamics. This thesis aims to serve as a bridge between these two aspects by establishing a mathematical framework that enables the computation of optical observable quantities based on theoretical models. The equations are cast in a matrix representation that is well-suited for performing numerical simulations. Additionally, the generality of these methods enables their application to layered media with any geometry, regardless of whether they possess magnetic properties or not. Furthermore, it explores the various perspectives and physical mechanisms involved in magneto-optic measurements to provide the reader with a self consistent introduction to the subject matter. Numerical calculations are presented for bulk Fe, alternating layers of Fe/Au and Ni with a MgO coating and a SiO substrate for different energies, angle of incident and magnetization direction. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in predicting measurable outcomes from theoretical considerations and enables the analysis of optimal experimental configurations. / Samverkan mellan experiment och teori är avgörande för fördjupa vår förståelse av magnetiska system och deras dynamik. Målet med denna uppsats är att etablera en koppling mellan dessa två aspekter genom att formulera ett matematiskt ramverk som möjliggör beräkningar av optiska observerbara storheter baserat på teoretiska modeller. Ekvationerna formuleras med matriser vilket är väl lämpat för att utföra numeriska simuleringar. Dessutom möjliggör metodens generella natur tillämpning på skiktade material av godtycklig geometri, oavsett om de har magnetiska egenskaper eller inte. Vidare utforskar uppsatsen olika perspektiv och fysikaliska mekanismer som är involverade i magneto-optiska mätningar för att ge läsaren en självständig introduktion till ämnet. Numeriska beräkningar presenteras för bulkjärn, växlande lager av Fe/Au och Ni med en MgO-beläggning och ett SiO-substrat för olika energier, infallsvinkel och magnetiseringsriktning. Resultaten visar på metodens förmåga att förutsäga mätbara resultat baserat på teoretiska överväganden och tillåter analys av optimala experimentella uppställningar.