Dynamic conversion of optical modes in magnetic garnet films induced by resonances of periodic stripe domains

Magnetic garnet films of composition (Y,Bi)3(Fe,Al)5O12 are grown by liquid phase epitaxy on [111] oriented substrates of Gd3Ga5O12. They support periodic lattices of parallel stripe domains. A simple strip antenna is used to excite the domain wall resonance and the two branches of the domain resonance in the frequency range up to 5 GHz. The resonance frequencies and the dynamic components of the magnetization are calculated using a hybridization model. Good agreement between calculated and measured resonance frequencies is obtained if the quality factor of the film is larger than 0.6. Optical modes are coupled into the waveguiding film. The excited domain resonances cause dynamic conversion of transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes by the Faraday and the Cotton–Mouton effects. Mode coupling and conversion are calculated by the perturbation theory. The dynamic conversion efficiencies are measured at the fundamental and the first harmonic frequency and at zero diffraction order as a function of the static induction applied in the film plane parallel to the stripes. Conversion efficiencies up to 18% are achieved at a frequency of 2.8 GHz. From the experimental data the precession angles are derived.