FARADAY ROTATION AND CIHROISM OF BISMUTH CALCIUM VANADIUM IRON GARNET

The magneto-optic properties of garnet single crystals close to the compensated composition BiCa2Fe4VO12 were measured in the region from 0.6 to 1.2 μ. The magnetic Faraday rotation, circular dichroism, and absorption are given as functions of wavelength. The rotation is several times greater than that of other garnets, and a figure of merit of 5°/dB is reached near 0.8 μ. Rotation measurements on two other compositions in this system show that the sign of the Faraday effect is opposite that of other compensated garnets and indicate that the origin of the large effect may be the bismuth ion. © 1969 The American Institute of Physics.