Trillion-switching-cycle endurance and high-speed operation of a nonvolatile magneto-optic switch.

A nonvolatile magneto-optic switch responding to a 5 ns pulse with a switching energy of 4.9 nJ was demonstrated. The switch operates by using a pulsed current-induced magnetic field to magnetize a thin-film magnet, which in turn generates a static magnetic field that magnetizes the magneto-optic phase shifter. Because the phase shift is maintained without continuous power application, the switch achieves low power consumption during periods of infrequent switching. Furthermore, since the operation relies on magnetization reversal-a nondestructive effect-a high write-cycle durability of 1.8 trillion cycles was demonstrated.