Deltronic Crystal Industries, Inc.
(973) 361-2222
Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG)
Applications:
- Optical isolators
- Optical switches and multiplexers
- Tuned microwave oscillators
- Band-reject and band-pass filters
- Magnetic-field sensors
- Fiber-optic sensors
- RF and microwave signal processing systems
A Versatile Crystal for Optical and Microwave Signal Control
Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) is a highly refined crystal used to control and protect signals in both optical and microwave systems. It is especially valued because it performs extremely well across a wide range of frequencies and conditions.
In optical applications, YIG is used to control the direction of light. When placed in a magnetic field, it gently rotates the light’s polarization—a phenomenon known as the Faraday effect. This makes YIG a key material in optical isolators, which protect sensitive lasers from unwanted reflections.
In microwave applications, YIG is prized for its ability to resonate very cleanly over a wide frequency range. This allows it to precisely filter, tune, or stabilize microwave signals used in communications, sensing, and signal processing equipment.
At Deltronic Crystal, single-crystal YIG is grown to exacting standards to support high-performance optical and microwave devices where reliability and precision are essential.
Built for R&D. Proven for Production.
Technical Overview
Single-crystal Yttrium Iron Garnet (Y₃Fe₅O₁₂) is a ferrimagnetic material recognized as one of the most thoroughly characterized and widely deployed magneto-optical and microwave materials. Its unique magnetic, optical, and dielectric properties make it suitable for both photonic and RF/microwave applications.
For magneto-optical applications, magnetically saturated YIG rods induce rotation of the polarization plane of transmitted light via the Faraday effect. This rotation is non-reciprocal and exhibits low temperature dependence, making YIG ideal for optical isolators, switches, and multiplexing devices.
For microwave applications, YIG spheres exhibit exceptionally high Q-factor resonance over a broad frequency range. This enables precise frequency selectivity and tunability in components such as tuned oscillators, magnetic resonance filters, and band-reject or band-pass filters.
Deltronic Crystal grows single-crystal YIG using the flux growth technique, producing material with excellent optical transparency, magnetic uniformity, and reproducible performance across both optical and microwave domains.
Key Features and Benefits
- Low temperature dependence of Faraday rotation
- High optical transparency from 1.2–5 μm
- Exceptionally high Q-factor for microwave applications
- Superior performance across both optical and microwave regimes
- Grown using the flux growth technique for high crystal quality
- Well-characterized, industry-standard material
Specifications
Property at 25°C
Pure YIG
Ga:YIG
Empirical Formula
Y3Fe5O12
Y3Fe4.05Ga.95O12
Molecular Weight (grams)
737.95
751.13
Crystal Structure
Cubic
Cubic
Space Group
La3d
La3d
Density (g-cm3)
5.17
5.28
Melting Point (oC)
1555
1545
Hardness (moh)
6.5 to 7.0
Lattice Constant (Å)
12.376
12.36
Saturation Magnetization (Gauss)
1780
400
Ferrimagnetic Resonance Linewidth (Oe)
<0.30
<0.95
Magnetic Anisotropy (erg/cm3)
-6.20 x 10-3
-1.7 x 10-3
Magnetic Anisotropy (erg/cm3)
-0.05 x 10-3
-6.20 x 10-3
Effective g factor
2
2
Gyromagnetic ratio (MHz/Gauss-1)
2.8
2.8
Magnetostrictive Coefficient
-2.73 x 10-6
-0.95 x 10-6
Magnetostrictive Coefficient
-1.25 x 10-6
-0.95 x 10-6
Magnetostrictive Coefficient
-2.20 x 10-6
Electrical Resistivity (Ù/cm)
1 x 1014
Young’s Modulus
2 x 1012
1 x 1012
Poisson’s Ratio
0.29
0.25
Dielectric Constant
15
15
Curie Temperature (K)
553
Thermal Conductivity (W/cm-1/°C-1)
0.074
Thermal Expansion Coefficient (°C-1)
1.04 x 10-5
Refractive index, 1310 nm
2.2
Refractive index, 1550 nm
2.19
Specific Heat
4.5
Optical Absorption, 1310 nm (cm-1)
0.05
0.05
Faraday Rotation, 1310 nm (°mm-1)
21.4
14.5
Transmittance1 (%)
>95
>95
Magneto-optical Sensitivity (°A-1)
0.14
0.6
Crystallographic Orientations, Dimensions, and Tolerances
Standard Dimensions:
Faraday Rotators
Spheres
2.1, 2.7mm length
1.8 to 5mm diameters 0.007″ to 0.1″
Dimension Tolerances
±0.005″ length, ±0.002″ diameter
Orientations
<100>
Flatness
<λ/5 at 633nm
Surface Quality
<10/5 (scratch/dig)
Parallelism, polished faces
<10 arc-minutes
Anti-reflective Coatings
Specify
Other Dopants
Specify
Why Deltronic Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG)
Yttrium Iron Garnet remains a foundational material for applications that demand precise control of optical and microwave signals within a single platform. Its combination of stable Faraday rotation, broad optical transparency, and exceptionally high microwave Q-factor allows engineers to design reliable, high-performance components across photonic and RF domains.
At Deltronic Crystal, single-crystal YIG is produced with tight control over magnetic and optical properties, ensuring consistent performance for optical isolation, signal filtering, sensing, and advanced communication systems.
Contact us to discuss specifications, custom requirements, or production volumes.
Call us at (973) 361-2222 or (973) 328-7000, or click here to contact us.