Magneto-Optic Materials and Devices: Fundamentals and Applications

This tutorial will provide a broad introduction to the nature of the magneto-optic effects in magnetic materials and their applications, with particular emphasis on devices for optical communications. The non-reciprocal nature of the Faraday rotation of the plane of polarization of light leads to its unique importance in such devices as optical isolators. The most important materials for near-infrared magneto-optical applications are the magnetic garnets such as YIG (yttrium iron garnet) with additions of rare earths and other elements. A detailed account will be given of the magnetic and optical properties of these garnets and their optimization. The growth of garnets in single crystal form and as epitaxial thin films and thick films will be described. Applications of modified YIG in each of these forms to devices such as circulators, switches, modulators, polarization rotators and beam deflectors as well as isolators will be emphasized.