Thermal, structural, magnetic and magneto-optical properties of dysprosium-doped phosphate glass

Abstract The work is dedicated to the investigation of optical, structural, magnetic and magneto-optical properties of an aluminophosphate glass doped with Dy 3+ ions, for specific applications as Faraday rotators in the visible spectral domain. The vitreous material belongs to the 16Li 2 O-8Al 2 O 3 -6BaO-60P 2 O 5 -10Dy 2 O 3 system. Optical homogeneity measured by a polariscopic method, as well as by polarimetry and interferometry revealed an optical quality glass. Time dependent electrical conductance measurements have shown a high chemical strength of the glass. Optical absorption of the doped glass in the visible domain evidenced the specific absorption lines of dysprosium ions, whereas structural investigations made by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy put in evidence the vitreous network forming role of phosphorous pentoxide. Magnetic and magneto-optical measurements demonstrated paramagnetic features of the doped glass, as well as a Verdet constant of about −0.05 min/Oe/cm at 600 nm wavelength.