Magnetooptic Spatial Light Modulator Array Fabricated by IR Annealing

We demonstrated a flat-surface magneto-optic spatial light modulator (MOSLM) without physically isolated pixels and an external bias coil. The flat-surface MOSLM, which was fabricated by a simple process, was designed as a compact system with a high resolution and very low driving current. Flat-surface pixels for the novel MOSLM were produced by the combinatory use of the local annealing effect that reduced magnetization 4piMs of pixel areas and the stress effect that produced sharp variations of magnetic anisotropy in a magnetic garnet film under the edge of a metal layer. The fabricated MOSLM was switched by applying currents of 6 mA for a bottom conductor line and 10 mA for a top conductor line.