Magneto-optical materials with low optical absorption are essential for realizing nonreciprocal light propagation in integrated photonic circuits. Among them, cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Ce:YIG) stands out for its exceptionally high Faraday rotation. In this work, we investigate how film thickness and deposition atmosphere influence the structural, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties of Ce:YIG (${\mathrm{Ce}}_1{\mathrm{Y}}_2{\mathrm{Fe}}_5{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$) films. Using pulsed laser deposition in argon and oxygen environments, we grew coherently strained, smooth films on (111)-oriented gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) substrates, with thicknesses up to 220 nm. Films grown in argon exhibit a significantly expanded out-of-plane lattice parameter, inducing perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, whereas those deposited in oxygen display in-plane magnetization. Remarkably, Ce:YIG films grown in argon show up to a twofold increase in magneto-optical activity compared to their oxygen-grown counterparts, achieving a Faraday rotation of $5.0{}^{\circ }/\mu \mathrm{m}$ at 780 nm. This enhancement is attributed to prolonged electronic relaxation times and longer-lived excitations in the more heavily strained films.

Close

PrevNext

View figure in article

• Magnetic anisotropy
• Magnetism
• Magneto-optics
• Magnetic thin films
• Film deposition