Large Mid‐Infrared Magneto‐Optic Response from Doped Cadmium Oxide at Its Epsilon‐Near‐Zero Frequency

Abstract

The epsilon‐near‐zero (ENZ) frequency regime of transparent conducting oxide materials is known to yield large enhancements in their optical nonlinearity and electro‐optic response. Here, Faraday rotation is investigated in Gd and In‐doped CdO films and it is found that the Verdet constant peaks at values >3 105 deg T−1 m−1 near the ENZ frequency, which is tunable in the wavelength range 2 < λ< 10 µm by varying the doping concentration. These results are among the highest reported to date in the mid‐infrared spectral range and are in good agreement with the Drude model, which confirms that the magneto‐optic response of doped CdO derives from its free carriers. The combination of a tunable Verdet constant, low optical loss compared to other plasmonic materials, and the ability to deposit CdO on Si with no loss in performance make this material a promising platform for integrated magneto‐optic and magnetoplasmonic devices that operate across the mid‐infrared.