Magneto-Optical Properties of Cerium-Substituted Yttrium Iron Garnet Single Crystals Grown by Traveling Solvent Floating Zone Method

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Abstract
A cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Y3-x Ce x Fe5O12) single crystal was grown by the traveling solvent floating zone (TSFZ) method in an oxygen environment. Using a Fe- and Ce-rich solvent, high quality single crystals with smooth and lustrous surface were grown at a rate of 1.0 mm/h. The segregation coefficient of Ce was calculated approximately as 0.2 from the compositional profile in the grown crystals measured by electron probe X-ray microanalyzer (EPMA). The optical absorption coefficient and the Faraday rotation angle of Y2.82Ce0.18Fe5O12 at 1550 nm wavelength were 0.12 cm-1 and -740 deg/cm, respectively. The figure of merit of a Faraday rotator was 1423 deg/dB. The absorption loss and sensitivity of the same Y2.82Ce0.18Fe5O12 (d=0.6 mm) for the magnetic field sensor were 0.03 dB and 0.1%/Oe, respectively, at 1550 nm wavelength. These results suggest that cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet is a high performance material for the Faraday rotator at 1550 nm wavelength.