Substrate Materials to Grow Single Crystal Quality Magnetic Films by Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE)

Metamagnetics proposes to develop new processes and manufacturing capabilities for the growth of epitaxial quality, thick Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) films using Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE). These optimized YIG films will result in higher performance, lower cost, frequency selective limiter (FSL) devices for the Army. FSLs are a new type of passive analog signal processing device that utilize advanced magnetic materials exhibiting non-linear microwave properties to enable automatic discrimination and attenuation of signals based on power level with a high degree of selectivity. During the Phase I Base period, Metamagnetics was successful in growing several high-quality, single crystal, (YIG) films on Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG) substrates via LPE. The fabrication processes for growing the films were shown to result in defect free films with the magnetic characteristics needed for high yield production of YIG films. In Phase II, we will further develop the science and engineering required for a high yield, cost-effective process for producing the YIG films needed for FSLs and SNEs.