Magneto-optic properties of rare earth iron garnet crystals in the wavelength range 1.1-1.7μm and their use in device fabrication

The wavelength and temperature dependence of the Faraday rotation together with the optical loss spectra of yttrium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium and ytterbium iron garnets are reported for wavelengths in the range 1.1-1.7 mu m. It is demonstrated that the Faraday rotation of all the iron garnets decreases with increasing wavelength with the exception of ytterbium iron garnet which, for wavelengths in excess of approximately 1.3 mu m, possesses a wavelength independent Faraday rotation of 5.7+or-0.3 degrees mm^-1. The performance of magneto-optic switches, isolators, modulators and deflectors constructed using each of these materials is discussed with particular emphasis on their operation at 1.3 mu m and 1.55 mu m, the wavelengths of interest in current optical fibre systems. It is concluded that whilst yttrium iron garnet or holmium iron garnet are best suited to the fabrication of devices operating at single wavelength, for broadband operation ytterbium iron garnet is to be preferred.