Praseodymium-dopant effect on bismuth-substituted yttrium iron garnet films on fused silica glass substrate at the 1310 and 1550-nm wavelengths

The optical and magneto-optic (MO) properties of the praseodymium (Pr)-dopant effect on bismuth-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Bi:YIG) films coated on fused silica glass substrates by using the metal-organic-decomposition (MOD) method with chemical solutions were investigated at the 1310 and 1550-nm wavelength regions. The maximum Faraday rotation angle of the Pr-codoped Bi:YIG (Pr,By:YIG) film was observed to be 0.09 and 0.046 deg/μm at the wavelengths of 1310 and 1550 nm, respectively, when the film was annealed at a temperature of 750 °C, while those of the plain Bi:YIG film were 0.059 and 0.039 deg/μm. More than 50% improvement in the Faraday rotation value of the Pr,Bi:YIG film was observed compared to that of the Bi:YIG film at the 1310 nm wavelength. The absorption coefficient of the Pr,Bi:YIG film was comparable to that of the Bi:YIG film. Therefore, the Pr,Bi:YIG film prepared with the MOD method is potentially useful for MO applications such as optical isolators and circulators.