  We demonstrate a novel method for the excitation of sizable magneto-optical
effects in Au by means of the laser-induced injection of hot spin-polarized
electrons in Au/Fe/MgO(001) heterostructures. It is based on the energy- and
spin-dependent electron transmittance of Fe/Au interface which acts as a spin
filter for non-thermalized electrons optically excited in Fe. We show that
after crossing the interface, majority electrons propagate through the Au layer
with the velocity on the order of 1 nm/fs (close to the Fermi velocity) and the
decay length on the order of 100 nm. Featuring ultrafast functionality and
requiring no strong external magnetic fields, spin injection results in a
distinct magneto-optical response of Au. We develop a formalism based on the
phase of the transient complex MOKE response and demonstrate its robustness in
a plethora of experimental and theoretical MOKE studies on Au, including our ab
initio calculations. Our work introduces a flexible tool to manipulate
magneto-optical properties of metals on the femtosecond timescale that holds
high potential for active magneto-photonics, plasmonics, and spintronics.
