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.