Growth and Characterization of CeF3 Crystals for Magneto-optical Application

doi:10.15541/jim20220592

Abstract

Abstract:

With the rapid development of high power laser and optical communication technology, how to eliminate the reflected noise generated inside the optical system is a crucial challenge. The magneto-optical isolators are magnetically active devices designed according to the Faraday effect, which can effectively isolate most of the reflected light to ensure the stable operation of the optical system. As the core component of the magneto-optical isolator, research and application of Faraday magneto-optical materials are promoting the update and development of the magneto-optical isolators. CeF₃ crystals have the advantages of high transmittance, wide transmission range and high Verdet constant, and have received widespread attention in recent years for the excellent magneto-optical property. But its traditional growth methods have some disadvantages such as high cost and long cycle. In this study, multiple CeF₃ crystals were successfully obtained by the porous crucible technology through optimizing the temperature field structure and process of Bridgman growth technology. Compared with commercial TGG(Tb₃Ga₅O₁₂) crystals, CeF₃ crystals have a significantly high transmittance up to 92%, and a comparable Verdet constant in the near-infrared wavelength, and the thermal performance test results show that CeF₃ crystals have high specific heat, indicating a strong thermal shock resistance and a high laser damage resistance. Therefore, the porous crucible technology is a large-scale and low-cost production method, which can be used to grow CeF₃ crystals achieving with excellent physical properties, exhibits great potential to develop magneto-optical isolators in the near-infrared band.

Key words: CeF₃, magneto-optical crystal, crystal growth, porous crucible technology

CLC Number:

O734

WU Zhen, LI Huifang, ZHANG Zhonghan, ZHANG Zhen, LI Yang, LAN Jianghe, SU Liangbi, WU Anhua. Growth and Characterization of CeF₃ Crystals for Magneto-optical Application[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(3): 296-302.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1 Schematic diagrams of the porous crucible structure (a) Side view; (b) Vertical view

Fig. 2 As-grown cracked samples of CeF3 crystals

Fig. 3 Pictures of (a, b) As-grown CeF3 crystal and (c) the polished sample

Fig. 4 XRD patterns of CeF3 crystal powder

Fig. 5 Transmission spectra of CeF3 crystal and TGG crystal Colorful figure is available on website

Fig. 6 (a) Schematic diagram of experimental principle and (b) picture of magneto-optical isolator based on CeF3 crystal

Table 1 Correspondence between solenoid coil current and magnetic field intensity

I/A	0.5	1.0	1.5	2.0	2.5
H/mT	8.2	16.4	24.6	32.8	41.0

Fig. 7 Faraday rotation angle of CeF3 crystal at 1064 nm wavelength as a function of the magnetic field intensity

Fig. 8 Thermal properties of crystals as a function of temperature (a) Specific heat; (b) Thermal diffusivity; (c) Thermal conductivity; (d) Thermal expansion

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Growth and Characterization of CeF₃ Crystals for Magneto-optical Application

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