Magneto-optical performances of novel neodymium-doped CeF3 crystal

Abstract The highly transparent neodymium-doped CeF3 (Nd:CeF3) single crystal with diameter of 20 mm × 35 mm was grown by the Bridgman Stockbarger (BS) method. The optical and magneto-optical (MO) performances of Nd:CeF3 were experimentally investigated in UV–Vis and near-IR spectral range. Notably, Nd:CeF3 exhibits high transparency and significantly enhanced Faraday rotation. Compared with commercial terbium gallium garnet (TGG), Nd:CeF3 has higher Verdet constants at different measured wavelengths. The bulk laser-induced damage of c-cut Nd:CeF3 crystal was also determined by R-on-1 method. All the results demonstrate that the properties of Nd:CeF3 are superior to those of CeF3 and TGG. The excellent MO properties of Nd:CeF3 with a used wavelength of 0.3–2.2 µm are especially important for high power isolators in order to cover UV–Vis and the entire near-IR range.