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The project intends to develop the research into materials with a high magneto-optical effect used as magnetic field sensors and optical isolators. Glass materials are of interest for these applications because they are transparent in the visible and near infrared spectral region and can be readily formed into complex shapes. One of the magneto-optical effects, the Faraday effect in glass will be investigated. The primary trend of the study is to develop glass compositions having a large specific Faraday rotation and low absorption in the visible and near infrared regions.

In the frame of the project, new vitreous materials containing transition, post transition and rare-earth ions will be investigated as good Faraday rotators that should satisfy certain requirements as: low absorption at the laser wavelength, low birefringence and high homogeneity.

Another direction of research will be focused on diamagnetic glasses as magnetic field sensors (via magneto-optical effect) with small size, immunity to noise and a high speed response. Both of these applications require temperature insensitivity over a broad temperature range. From this point of view, diamagnetic glasses are chosen for the sensing element with high stability and their temperature dependence which is much less than that of paramagnetic materials. The magnetic field sensors will be obtained as thin films by sol-gel and PLD methods.

The vitreous magneto-optical materials as bulk and thin films will be optical, structural and magnetic characterized (UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR, Raman, fluorescence spectroscopy, ellipsometry, testing of magneto-optical parameters and magnetic characteristics, thermo-mechanical parameters, scanning electron microscopy).

The novelty of the project proposal can be summarized as follows: 

• The proposal represents a first attempt to perform aluminophosphate glasses containing pairs of transition (Fe, Mn) and post-transition ions (Tl⁺, Sn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Sb³⁺, Bi³⁺) as well as pairs of rare-earth ions that should have pre-established properties as function of end-usage areas
• Manufacturing and processing of MOBGRE (magneto-optical bulk glass doped with rare-earth ions), MOBGTPT (magneto-optical bulk glass doped with transition and post-transition ions and MOVTFRETPT (magneto-optical thin films doped with rare-earth, transition and post-transition ions), design of their appropiate structures, materials selection, understanding of their behaviour and capability to be used as optical rotators and magnetic field sensors 

• Our proposal aims to initiate a global, transdisciplinary, unitary approach of predictive design of properties/structure for MOBGRE, MOBGTPT and MOVTFRETPT materials 

• The project proposes a progressive approach in the field of physics and chemistry of oxide materials

• Performing of magneto-optical bulk glasses based on rare-earth ions (MOBGRE)

• Performing of magneto-optical bulk phosphate glasses based on transition and post-transition ions (MOBGTPT)

• Performing of magneto-optical vitreous phosphate thin films containing rare-earth, transition and post-transition ions (MOVTFRETPT)

• Optical, structural and magnetic characterization of MOBGRE, MOBGTPT and MOVTFRETPT materials

• Correlation of MOBGRE, MOBGTPT and MOVTFRETPT properties with their structure and their applications in optoelectronics

• Comparison of optimized properties and processing costs for the vitreous bulk and thin films magnetic materials, obtained by different routes

• Demonstration of utility of MOBGRE, MOBGTPT and MOVTFRETPT as Faraday rotators and magnetic field sensors

• Dissemination of the project results by papers publishing, presenting of communications at scientific events, patent issue

• Providing a solid knowledge base for technological applications of these new types of optical rotators and magnetic field sensors with improved performance and applicability in various fields of human life

• National Institute of R & D for Optoelectronics INOE 2000,project coordinator, represented byDr. Elisa Mihail, coordinator, is oriented towards fundamental research of ecological methods and technologies for high-tech materials and applications as well as quantum optoelectronics

• National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, represented by Dr. Medianu Rares, responsible, and co-workers have expertise in fundamental research, applied research technological transfer in the domain of laser, plasma and electron accelerators physics.

• National Institute for Materials Physics-NIMP, represented by Dr. Valeanu Mihaela, responsible and co-workersaredevotedto fundamental and applied research and development in solid statephysicsandmaterials science.

• University Politehnica of Bucharest, represented by Prof. dr. Adrian Volceanov, responsible, represents the largest Romanian technical university, with a history of over 180 years and an excellent tradition in education and scientific research.

• Pro Optica S.A. represented by Dr. Dumitru Ulieru, responsible, is a commercial society having manufacturing and research & development activities, leader on the Romanian market of optoelectronics

The teams of the project consortium is composed of research scientists, PhD in the domains of science and engineering of oxide materials, physics of condensed matter, general chemistry, electronics, optics, mechanics. The leader of the project is PhD in engineering sciences (optical properties of phosphate glasses). All the PhD participants from the project team have experience to lead national projects (National Plan CDI-II, National Plan CDI-I, CEEX Programme-CERES, MENER, AMCSIT, MATNANTECH, Nucleus Programme, Orizont 2000, etc) and to participate in international projects (MNT-ERA.NET, Bilateral cooperation with Republic of Moldavia, Competitive and Sustainable Growth- FP V of EU, Access to Research Infrastructures- FP V of EU, European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research-COST P11- Action: Physics of Linear, Non-Linear, and Active Photonic Crystal). The scientific activity of the project consortium teams is evidenced by published articles in ISI journals, extended studies at national/international scientific events, oral/poster communications, patents, participation at scientific events as: workshops, conferences, congress, symposia, round tables, etc. Some people are invited teachers at different foreign universities and invited speakers at scientific events.

Scientific agreements established between the partners teams of the project and other universities from:

(i) Faculty of Science and Technology, New University of Lisbon, Campus da Caparica, Caparica, Portugal

(ii) University of Aveiro, Ceramic and Glass Department, Aveiro, Portugal

(iii) Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia