Magneto-induced optical second harmonic generation (MSHG) is used to study the structural and magnetic properties of Co-Cu granular films. Azimuthal anisotropy of the SHG response reveals an existence of the regular structure of Co nanocrystals. The nonlinear magneto-optical Kerr effect (NOMOKE) is observed for the longitudinal and transverse configurations. The coherence of the SH responses from the nonmagnetic and magnetic subsystems of the Co-Cu granular films is demonstrated by the MSHG phase measurements (the MSHG interferometry).

Magnetization induced second harmonic generation (MSHG) is observed in Gd-containing Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. The nonlinear optical studies reveal significant alterations in the second harmonic generation (SHG) intensity and in the polarization and phase of the second harmonic (SH) wave induced by application of DC magnetic field. The violation of polarization selection rules and the diffusenes of the MSHG intensity indicates the inhomogeneity of LB structure and the hyper-Rayleigh scattering mechanism of MSHG. The latter proofs the existence of 2D-islands of Gd ions in the structural unit of the LB films which is composed by monolayer of rare-earth ions compressed between two layers of stearic acid molecules.