Growth and Characterization of BiGd Garnet Thick Films on 2-inch-Diameter Nd3Ga5O12 Substrates

This paper reports on the crystal quality and magneto-optical properties of 300 μm thick bismuth-substituted garnet film grown on a 2-inch diameter Nd₃Ga₅O₁₂ substrate. The crystal surface of the (BiGd)₃ (FeGaAl)₅O₁₂ film was specular, but one swirled section was found corresponding to a section of pits in the substrate. A correspondence of almost 1 to 1 was found between the positions of the substrate pit section and the film swirl section. Measurements of the extinction ratio showed that a uniform distribution was maintained within the specimen. Extinction ratio deterioration was found at the front of the swirls caused by the substrate pits, but no clear variation was found behind that (in the tails trailing from the pits).