Magneto-optic spatial light modulator made by selective area growth on garnet mask reduced in hydrogen atmosphere

A magneto-optical spatial light modulator (MOSLM) is produced by selective area growth on garnet mask reduced in hydrogen atmosphere. The garnet film is first grown selectively on patterned (GdCa)₃(GaMgZr)₅O₁₂ substrate. The crystalline and domain structure of the film is analyzed by X-ray diffraction measurements and polarized light microscope, respectively. The magnetic properties are then examined by VSM measurements. From the results, it is assumed that the magnetic separation of the pixels is caused by the difference of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy energy that depends on the crystalline structure and stress induced by the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient in each film and the defects involved in the gap section. This technique is able to prepare the pixel array separated magnetically with low switching field and to operate the MOSLM successively with no error.