Polarization dependence of signals from periodic one-dimensional arrays of magnetic domains in magneto-optical (MO) media and crystalline domains in amorphous phase-change (PC) media has been studied by theoretical calculation and experiment. The MO signal in the small-period regime depends on the direction of incident polarization. The relative strength of the Ell and E, signals changes depending on the period of the pattern, the wavelength of the light, and the numerical aperture of the objective lens. For PC media, the reflected signal has similar polarization dependence, but this dependence is weak. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.