Modification of Bi:YIG film properties by substrate surface ion pre-treatment

• Effects of substrates ion beam treatment on magnetoptical properties Bi:YIG films.
• Substrate surface damage results in sign inversion of the magneto-optical effects.
• Atomically smooth films growth takes place on low energy ions treated substrates.
• High energy ions treatment results in selective nucleation mechanism of the growth.

The effect of a controlled ion beam pre-treatment of (1 1 1)-oriented Gd3Ga5O12 substrates on the magneto-optical properties and surface morphology of the ultrathin bismuth-substituted yttrium–iron garnet films with a composition Bi2.8Y0.2Fe5O12 was studied. It has been shown that the observed sign inversion of magneto-optical effects (Faraday rotation and magnetic circular dichroism) observed in films that were deposited on the GGG substrate pre-treated by 1 keV and 4 keV Ar+ ion beams is a result of the substrate surface amorphization caused by the ion bombardment.

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