Synthesis of ferromagnetic Bi-substituted yttrium iron garnet films by laser ablation

Bismuth-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Bi:YIG) films were deposited on gadolinium gallium garnet substrate by laser ablation using the ArF excimer laser. This is the first report on the preparation of Bi-substituted YIG films by laser ablation. Films have a garnet single phase above the substrate temperature of 490 °C, and the film composition does not deviate largely from the target composition and it is almost constant in the temperature range between 490 and 580 °C. The saturation magnetization of the film is 1500 G at room temperature. Faraday rotation angle θF at a wavelength of 830 nm at room temperature is −0.3×104 °/cm.