Magneto-optical element and optical magnetic field sensor using the same

Abstract

A magneto-optical element comprises a film of a Bi-substituted rare earth iron garnet selected from garnets of the following chemical formulas (Bi.sub.x Gd.sub.y R.sub.z Y.sub.3-x-y-z)(Fe.sub.5-w Ga.sub.w)O.sub.12 wherein R represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements other than Gd, and x, y, z and w are such that 1.00.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.30, 0.42.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.60, 0.01.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.05 and 0.40.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.62, and (Bi.sub.x 'Gd.sub.y 'R.sub.z 'Y.sub.3-x'-y'-z')Fe.sub.5 O.sub.12 wherein R is as defined above, and x', y' and z' are such that 1.10.ltoreq.x'.ltoreq.1.30, 1.00.ltoreq.y'.ltoreq.1.80, 0.ltoreq.z'.ltoreq.0.06. An optical magnetic field sensor capable of detecting zeroth to higher order beams of diffracted light is also described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.