Theo Johan August Popma

Optical thin layers of MgF2 produced by decomposition of organic magnesium-fluoro compounds.

Polycrystalline magnesium fluoride is extensively applied as an optical thin layer. Some of its optical, chemical, and mechanical properties are discussed in this paper. Vacuum as well as nonvacuum techniques are suitable for its production and the latter are described in detail, including chemical aerosol decomposition of a few magnesium-fluoro compounds as well as spinning or dipping of solutions of one of the magnesium-fluoro compounds. This subject is presented in the broader context of potential methods of mass-producing optical thin MgF2 layers and of potential industrial applications. The pros and cons of four relevant processes are dealt with.

Faraday Rotation and Optical Absorption of Epitaxial Films of Y3−xBixFe5O12

Thin films of Y3−xBixFe5O12 (xu2009≤u20090.3) have been grown on Gd3Ga5O12 and Sm3Ga5O12 substrates by liquid phase epitaxy. Faraday rotation and optical absorption measurements between 0.7 and 0.4 micron are reported. Near 0.5 the FR has a large negative value of −3 degrees/micron for xu2009=u20090.26 as compared with +0.3 degrees/micron for YIG. Both the optical absorption and the figure of merit (rotation/absorption) are higher for the Bi containing garnet films. The promising properties of these materials for magneto‐optic applications are discussed.Thin films of Y3−xBixFe5O12 (xu2009≤u20090.3) have been grown on Gd3Ga5O12 and Sm3Ga5O12 substrates by liquid phase epitaxy. Faraday rotation and optical absorption measurements between 0.7 and 0.4 micron are reported. Near 0.5 the FR has a large negative value of −3 degrees/micron for xu2009=u20090.26 as compared with +0.3 degrees/micron for YIG. Both the optical absorption and the figure of merit (rotation/absorption) are higher for the Bi containing garnet films. The promising properties of these materials for magneto‐optic applications are discussed.