| Epitaxially grown yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films can be used to fabricate optical waveguides which can be stimulated to induce a Faraday rotation in the modes which they guide. The waveguides are stimulated by applying a magnetic field along the direction of light propagation in the waveguide. When a YIG waveguide is designed and excited to produce a 45 degree non-reciprocal polarization rotation, it can serve as the critical component of an optical isolator.;This thesis presents the results of YIG waveguide design, growth, processing, and characterization. Propagation of guided modes in the processed waveguides has been observed and recorded. |
