UV-visible Faraday rotators based on rare-earth fluoride single crystals: LiREF4 (RE = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Yb), PrF3 and CeF3.
High optical quality LiREF(4) (RE = Tb(3+), Dy(3+), Ho(3+), Er(3+) and Yb(3+)), PrF(3) and CeF(3) 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. CeF(3) 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. PrF(3) is the best rotator for the 220-300 nm range. Towards shorter wavelength and in the vacuum ultraviolet, it is shown that the LiREF(4) crystals are unique rotators. Overall, the rare-earth fluoride single crystals studied here exhibit better properties than other materials considered so far, and therefore they have potential to cover the increasing demand for new and improved Faraday rotators in the ultraviolet-visible wavelength region.
Optical Single Crystal Group, Optical and Electronic Materials Unit, Environment and Energy Materials Research Division, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan. vasyliev.valentyn@nims.go.jp
Valentyn
V
Vasyliev
Encarnacíon G
EG
Villora
Masaru
M
Nakamura
Yoshiyuki
Y
Sugahara
Kiyoshi
K
Shimamura
D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000737:chemistry*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D008674:Metals, Rare Earth; D005459:Fluorides