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Magneto-optical garnets are attractive because of their high Faraday rotation and low optical loss in the near infrared. Therefore their use is generally in nonreciprocal devices, i.e., as optical isolators in optical communication. In this paper we present data concerning the deposition of Bi3Fe5O12 (BIG) thin films on (100) and (111) Gd3Ga5O12 substrates using pulsed-laser deposition. Laser-induced processes on the surface of the oxide target used for ablation were analyzed and numerous films were deposited. We found the BIG film quality to be strongly affected by oxygen pressure, laser energy density, and the Bi/Fe film ratio, whereas temperature had a minor influence. We also investigated the BIG-film deposition using a target pressed from metallic Bi and Fe powders and found information on the growth behavior of BIG. We report on details of the film deposition and film properties determined by environmental scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. In addition, we determined the Faraday rotation of the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we present extensive investigations of the growth of bismuth-substituted iron garnet Bi3Fe5O12 (BIG) on (001)-, (111)- and (110)-oriented gadolinium gallium garnet Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) and doped GGG (SGGG, S*GGG) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The growth has been studied by the use of in-situ reflecting high-energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. We found 3D island growth to be the dominant growth mode for the BIG films. Additionally, we present a special technique to create very large BIG growth islands. This method involves the use of a metallic bismuth iron ablation target and partially shielding the substrate during deposition. The growth islands have a characteristic geometry depending on the cut of the substrate. We could explain their shapes by the assumption that growing BIG tends to form {110} facets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]