UV-Visible Faraday Rotators Based on Rare-Earth Fluoride Single Crystals: LiREF₄ (RE=Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Yb), PrF₃ and CeF₃

Abstract:

High optical quality LiREF₄ (RE = Tb³⁺, Dy³⁺, Ho³⁺, Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺), PrF₃ and CeF₃ single crystals have been grown by the Czochralski technique. Their magneto-optical properties have been measured and analyzed in detail in the ultraviolet-visible wavelength region, and their figures of merit as Faraday rotators have been determined. CeF₃ presents superior properties above 300 nm, showing a figure of merit higher than that of the reference material, terbium-gallium-garnet, which is nowadays used in the visible-near infrared. PrF₃ is the best rotator for the 220-300 nm range. Towards shorter wavelength and in the vacuum ultraviolet, it is shown that the LiREF₄ crystals are unique rotators.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 582)
• Pages: 194-197
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.582.194
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Valentyn Vasyliev, Encarnacion G. Villora, Masaru Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Sugahara, Kiyoshi Shimamura
• Keywords: Faraday Effect, Magneto-Optic Systems, Rare-Earth Fluorides, Single Crystal, Ultraviolet

References

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[4] V. Vasyliev, E.G. Villora, M. Nakamura, Y. Sugahara and K. Shimamura: Opt. Express Vol. 20 (2012), p.14460.

DOI: 10.1364/oe.20.014460