Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of manganese-containing antimony phosphate glasses - An alternative to Faraday rotators

Glasses in system 100-x(70SbPO4-10ZnO-20PbO) xMnO, with x = 0, 10, 20 and 30 mol %, where prepared by the conventional melting-quenching method. The glasses were cut, polished and characterized by XRD, DSC, Raman, FTIR, UV-Vis and luminescence and magnetic and magneto-optical aiming application ultimate as in magneto-optical devices. These samples containing manganese exhibit magnetic response to neodymium magnets at room temperature. In addition, they feature thermal stability above 100 degrees C, wide transparency in the visible and near infrared region. The optical absorption spectra of the glass revealed the presence of characteristic absorption bands of Mn2+ at 410 nm attributed to 6A1(S) -> 4A1, 4E (4G) transition and possible oxidation at around 550 nm assigned to 5B1g -> 5B2g transition of the Mn3+ ions. Refractive indices higher than 1.8 and characteristic emission bands around 680-720 nm, assigned to 4T1(G)-> 6A1(S) transition, were also observed. Magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed the paramagnetic character of the Mn-containing glasses, with antiparallel spin alignment. Finally, a linear growth trend was observed for the Verdet constant along with the Mn2+ concentration and the highest value measured, for sample containing 30 mol% of MnO, was-55.1 +/- 3.2 rad T-1 m-1 at 632.8 nm. This value is close to those of some families of glasses containing rare earths, being an alternative of new low-cost magneto-optical vitreous materials.