Development of optical isolators for visible light using terbium aluminum garnet (Tb3Al5O12) single crystals

We have recently reported the successful growth of incongruently melting terbium aluminum garnet (Tb3Al5O12; TAG) single crystals by the hybrid laser FZ (floating zone) method. Optical property evaluations confirmed a high transmittance and a larger Verdet constant than conventional Tb3Ga5O12 (TGG) crystals and/or Faraday glasses. In this study, we attempted to design, fabricate, and evaluate optical isolators in visible light through near-infrared (NIR) regions using TAG crystals. A finite element method (FEM) simulation of possible models led us to the preferable one based on a radially magnetized magnet. To realize this, we employed a pseudo-radially magnetized magnet. The target wavelengths of the prototype device were 408, 808, and 1064 nm. The typical extinction ratio was more than 30 dB and the insertion loss was less than 0.3 dB for AR-coated devices.