Magnetization of a garnet film through a change in its multidomain structure under circularly polarized light

An effect of photomagnetization of a (Tm2.4Bi0.6)(Fe3.9Ga1.1)O-12 garnet film at T = 300 K caused by a change in the film multidomain structure is discovered. The photomagnetization (Delta M) is induced by the action of a circularly polarized pulsed lasing (power P < 600 kW/cm(2), pulse duration tau(i) similar to 7 ns) in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 600 nm. The effect is measured vs the power and polarization of light and vs the magnetic field perpendicular to the film surface. Without a magnetic field the value of Delta M is the maximum for the circular polarization of light (0.1 G < Delta M < 1 G at a power of 300 kW/cm(2)). With a change of the polarization direction Delta M changes sign (for linear polarization Delta M = 0). Our study of photomagnetization in external magnetic fields and observation of the film domain structure behavior led us to the conclusion that the effect is unambiguously attributed to a change in the multidomain structure of film by the action of light.