Host: The Ceramic Society of Japan
Bi-substituted yttrium iron garnet, Y3-xBixFe5O12 (Bi:YIG, x = 1, 1.5), films were prepared on Gd3Ga5O12 (111) substrates by a metal-organic decomposition (MOD) method to use as magneto-optical (MO) indicator films. Those films had the in-plane magnetic anisotropy and Faraday rotation as large as that of the single crystals. Magnetic recording marks were successfully observed using Y1.5Bi1.5Fe5O12 films with a thickness of 200 nm. The characteristics are suitable for MO indicator films to visualize a stray magnetic field strayed from a specimen with high resolution.