Fabrication and properties of non-stoichiometric Tb2(Hf1-xTbx)2O7-x magneto-optical ceramics

Non stoichiometric Tb-2(Hf1-xTbx)(2)O7-x (x = -0.07-0.45) magneto-optical ceramics were fabricated by solid-state reactive sintering in vacuum combined with hot isostatic pressing (HIP) post-treatment without any sintering aids. The phase composition, densification process, microstructure, optical transmittance, and Verdet constant of Tb-2(Hf1-xTbx)(2)O7-x ceramics were investigated. The in-line transmittance of (Tb0.93Hf0.07)(2)Hf2O7.07 ceramics with a thickness of 2.0 mm reaches 74.6% at 1064 nm. The Verdet constant of Tb-2(Hf1-xTbx)(2)O7-x ceramics is -153.4, -155.8, and -181.2 rad/(T.m) at the wavelength of 633 nm when x = -0.07, 0, and 0.1, respectively. The Verdet constant increases with the increase of Tb content, and these values are higher than that of the commercial Tb3Ga5O12 crystal, indicating that non-stoichiometric Tb-2(Hf1-xTbx)(2)O7-x ceramics have a great potential for the application in Faraday isolators.

Automated summary

Non-stoichiometric Tb-2(Hf1-xTbx)(2)O7-x ceramics were successfully fabricated and investigated for their phase composition, densification process, microstructure, optical transmittance, and Verdet constant. The results showed that the transmittance and Verdet constant of the ceramics increased with the increase of Tb content, and the Verdet constant was higher compared to the commercial Tb3Ga5O12 crystal, suggesting the great potential of non-stoichiometric Tb-2(Hf1-xTbx)(2)O7-x ceramics for Faraday isolator applications.