Abstract: A magneto-optic memory element consisting of a substrate provided with an amorphous layer of an alloy of a rare-earth metal and a transition metal. The layer has a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. Such memory elements are suitable for storing digital information in the form of magnetized areas, the magnetizaiton direction of which can be read by means of the Kerr effect or Faraday effect. By adding bismuth to the alloy, the Kerr rotation and Faraday rotation can each be increased considerably, so that simpler reading of the stored information is possible.