MAGNETOOPTICAL PROPERTIES OF Y3-X-YCEXLAYFE5O12

Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) has been characterized extensively for its use in magneto-optic devices, such as optical isolators and magnetic field sensors. The effects of doping cerium and lanthanum into the MG host are reported. In optical isolator applications operating at 1.31 mu m and 1.54 mu m, where miniaturization and temperature stability are important, cerium and lanthanum-containing compositions are considered as alternatives to pure MG. Measurements mere made of the Faraday rotation as a function of temperature, extinction ratio, and saturation magnetization in several garnet compositions. Improvement of optical transmission at 1.31 mu m and 1.54 mu m was achieved by the incorporation of small amounts of calcium.