Enhancement of Faraday rotation in thin namostructural fluoride films by combining magnetic nad plasmonic functionalities

Abstract
The project proposes the development of nanocomposite (NC) layers with outstanding magnetooptical (MO) properties. The basic matrix of NC consists of fluorides such as CaF2, AlF3 eliminating undesirable oxidation on the surface of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) distributed in the matrix. Ferromagnetic metals such as Co, Fe and CoFex will be used as nanoparticle’s material. A hybrid system combining various deposition techniques will be used to prepare the NC: electron beam evaporation, pulsed laser deposition and high-pressure magnetron sputtering. We will experimentally study the structure of magnetic metal nanoparticles, their size and distribution, and consequently their mechanisms responsible for their resulting MO properties. In the second phase of the project, the potential of these magneto-optical NC for the development of materials with significant Faraday rotation will be exploited. At the end the attention will be paid to the design, modelling and preparation of magneto-plasmonic, nonreciprocal, photonic structures; namely, the Faraday Rotator in the visible and IR regions.