Synthesis of yttrium iron garnet/bismuth quantum dot heterostructures with localized plasmon enhanced magneto-optical performance

Abstract

Interactions between light and magnetic matter attracted great attention lately due to their potential applications in nanophotonics, spintronics, and high-accuracy sensing. Here, we grew bismuth quantum dots (Bi–QDs) with strong spin–orbit coupling on a magnetic insulator yttrium iron garnet (YIG) via molecular beam epitaxy. The YIG/Bi–QDs material shows an enhanced magneto-optical Kerr rotation up to 130% compared with that of a bare YIG film. The Bi–QDs were also introduced onto a lutetium–bismuth co-doped YIG film to form a hybrid system with remarkably enhanced Kerr rotation (from 1626 to 2341 mdeg). Ferromagnetic resonance measurements showed an increased effective magnetization as well as interfacial spin–orbit field in the YIG/Bi–QD heterostructures. Localized plasmons were mapped using electron energy loss spectroscopy with high spatial resolution, revealing enhanced plasmon intensity at both the Bi–QD surface and YIG/Bi–QD interface. Introducing Bi-QDs onto the YIG film enhanced Kerr rotation owing to the attenuated optical reflection and increased effective magnetization. The Bi–QD-enhanced magneto-optical effect enables development of efficient nanoscale light switching, spintronics, and even plasmonic nano-antennas.