A Unique Faraday Rotator Crystal for the UV and Visible Spectral Region

A new paramagnetic crystal, TbPO4, is proposed as an efficient substitute for materials used currently as Faraday rotators in optical isolators in visible and near-IR lasers. It's figure-of-merit is an order of magnitude higher than that of TGG. Aneffective solvent for growing TbPO4 by the high temperature solution (HTS) method is proposed. This solvent is environmentally benign and can universally replace the lead-based flux currently used to grow rare earth orthophosphate crystals. Thesecrystals have application as ultraviolet, visible, and infrared lasers and as elements in other optical devices. Thus, the successful completion of this program should ultimately benefit both commercial and defense related applications.More compact isolator; High transmission throughout the visible and UV; Higher rotation than current materials in the visible;