Switching and modulation of light in magneto-optic waveguides of garnet films

Abstract

We report for the first time switching and modulation of light in a magneto‐optic waveguide that is a single‐crystal epitaxially grown iron‐garnet film. These experiments involve the Faraday rotation of the magnetic film and the motion of magnetization in the plane of the film. We have modulated light from a 1.152‐μm laser up to 80 MHz. We were also able to switch light between two waveguide modes by applying a magnetic field as small as 0.2 Oe.