Faraday Rotation and Dichroism of Bismuth Calcium Vanadium Iron Garnet

Abstract

The magneto‐optic properties of garnet single crystals close to the compensated composition BiCa₂Fe₄VO₁₂ were measured in the region from 0.6 to 1.2 μ. The magnetic Faraday rotation, circular dichroism, and absorption are given as functions of wavelength. The rotation is several times greater than that of other garnets, and a figure of merit of 5°/dB is reached near 0.8 μ. Rotation measurements on two other compositions in this system show that the sign of the Faraday effect is opposite that of other compensated garnets and indicate that the origin of the large effect may be the bismuth ion.