Recent development of magneto-optical thin films and integrated photonic devices

Magneto-optical (MO) materials are widely used in microwave communication, optical communication and optical sensing systems. Most commercial MO materials today are bulk single crystals or ceramics. The development of photonic integrated circuits, terahertz photonics and optical sensing systems require MO thin films for integrated photonic device applications. These devices include integrated MO isolators, circulators, modulators and switches in the optical and terahertz (THz) frequencies, chemical/biomedical sensors, as well as nanophotonic magnetometers. This paper reviews recent progress of MO thin film materials and their applications in integrated photonic devices. Challenges and prospects of MO thin film technology and emerging device applications are also summarized.