Polycrystalline (Tb_XY_1-X)₂O₃ Faraday rotator

We have succeeded for the first time in synthesizing an optical grade (Tb_XY_1-X)₂O₃ (X=0.5-1.0) ceramic Faraday rotator, which greatly exceeds the basic characteristics of the commercial terbium gallium garnet (TGG) (Tb₃Ga₅O₁₂) crystal. The Faraday rotation angle increased as the Tb concentration increased, and the Verdet constant increased from 2.1 (82  rad T^-1 m^-1 at X=0.5) to 3.8 times (154  rad T^-1 m^-1 at X=1.0) than the TGG single crystal, which is regarded as highest class. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the Faraday rotator length and the magnet in building an optical isolator. It was also confirmed that its optical quality was very comparable to the commercial TGG crystal.