| abstract |
Rare earth-iron-garnet fine particles represented by the general formula nR a Bi b Fe c M d O e (I) n(in the formula, R represents at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Y and lanthanum series elements; M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Cr, Mn, Sc, In, Ru, Rh, Co, Fe(II), Cu, Ni, Zn, Li, Si, Ge, Zr, Ti, Hf, Sn, Pb, Mo, V, Nb and Ta; a is a number of 0.5 to 3.5; b is a number of 0 to 2.5; c is a number of 3.0 to 6.0; d is a number of 0 to 2.0; The sum of a, b, c and d is in the range of 7.0 to 8.0; the sum of a and b is in the range of 2.0 to 3.5; the sum of c and d is in the range of 4.0 to 6.0; and e is the ratio of the number of oxygen atoms sufficient for valence compensation) and having an average particle diameter in the range of 30 Å to 1,000 Å, the particles being useful in a magneto-optical apparatus such as optical isolator, optical circulator, optical switch, optical waveguide, optical memory (magneto-optical recording medium) and the like. |