Magneto-optical spectroscopy of Yb3+ ions in huntite structure

We report the first measurements of magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and magneto-optical activity (ratio of zero moments of MCD and absorption bands) of Yb3+ ion in the trigonal single crystals YbxTm1−xAl3(BO3)4 as a function of temperature in the range of 100-293 K. Magneto-optical activity follows the Curie-Weiss law with the Weiss constant θ=−55 K for Yb0.1Tm0.9Al3(BO3)4 crystal. The value and origin of the magneto-optical activity is theoretically analyzed.