Magneto-optical waveguides made of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles embedded in silica/zirconia organic inorganic matrix

Abstract : This paper describes a way to develop magneto-optical waveguides via sol-gel process. They are made of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles embedded in a silica/zirconia matrix. Thin films are coated on glass substrate using the dip-coating technique. Annealing and UV treatment are applied to finalize samples preparation. Therefore, planar waveguides combining magneto-optical properties with a low refractive index (~ 1, 5) are obtained. M-lines and free space ellipsometry measurements show a specific Faraday rotation of 250 °/cm and a modal birefringence of 1.10−4, at 820 nm. Thus, the mode conversion efficiency can reach a maximum value around 56 %.