Wavelength dependence of the Verdet constant in synthetic quartz glass for deep-ultraviolet light sources

Abstract

Deep-ultraviolet (DUV) light sources are critical owing to their high photon energies and small diffraction limits, and synthetic quartz glass (SQ) is suitable for the Faraday rotators of DUV light. The Verdet constant in SQ was evaluated within the wavelength range of 190–300 nm. In addition to a high Verdet constant over the DUV region, this material exhibits a high transmittance without transitional absorption bands. The Verdet constants were found to be 70.1 rad/(T·m) at 193 nm, which is the shortest observed wavelength for silica glass. SQ glass has excellent structural properties; thus, it is suitable as a DUV Faraday rotator for high-average-power optical isolators.