YIG THIN FILM MICROWAVE APPARATUS

Abstract: Microwave apparatus includes a YIG thin film device (1) utilising the ferrimagnetic resonance effect, and a magnetic circuit (2) having a gap of length ℓg in which the YIG thin film device is provided and applying a bias magnetic field perpen­ dicular to a film surface of the YIG thin film device, the magnetic circuit (2) including a permanent magnet (4) having a thickness ℓm and a soft magnetic plate (5) having a thick­ ness ℓx. The permanent magnet (4) satisfies the characteristics and the soft magnetic plate satisfies the characteristics wherein: fo is the resonance frequency of the YIG thin film device (1); γ is the gyromagnetic ratio of the YIG thin film; NZ Y is the demagnetisation factor of the YIG thin film; 4πMso Y is the saturation magnetisation of the YIG thin film at room temperature; 4πMso Y is the saturation magnetisation of the soft magnetic plate (5); Br° is the remanence of the permanent magnet (4) at room temperature; α₁ B is the first order temperature coefficient of the remanence of the permanent magnet (4) at or near room temperature; α₁ Y is the first order temperature coefficient of the saturation megnetisation of the YIG thin film at or near room tempera­ ture; and α₁ x is the first order temperature coefficient of the saturation magnetisation of the soft magnetic plate (5) at or near room temperature. The thicknesses ℓm and ℓx are selected to improve the temperature dependency of the resonance frequency of the apparatus, such that it is capable of operating stably over wide ranges of working frequencies and temperatures.

Description: This invention relates to YIG (Yttrium Iron Garnet) thin film microwave apparatus, and in particular to such apparatus including a YIG thin film device utilising the ferrimagnetic resonance effect. There has been proposed microwave apparatus, such as a microwave filter or a microwave oscillator, which utilises the ferrimagnetic resonance of a YIG thin film as a ferrimagnetic material formed on a GGG (Gadolinium Gallium Garnet) non-magnetic substrate by means of liquid-phase epitaxial growth (which will be hereinafter referred to as LPE) and worked into a desired shape, such as a circular or rectangular shape, by selective etching with a photolithographic technique. The microwave apparatus makes it possible to form a microwave integrated circuit with a transmission line such as a micro-strip line, and easily effect hybrid connection with another microwave integrated circuit. Furthermore, since microwave apparatus utilising magnetic resonance of the YIG thin film may be prepared by the LPE and the photolithography techniques as mentioned above, mass productivity can readily be achieved. Such microwave apparatus has been proposed in 1985 IEEE-MIT-S INTERNATIONAL MICROWAVE SYMPOSIUM DIGEST, saint Louis, Missouri, 4-6 June 1985, pages 285 - 288, IEEE, New York, USA, Y. MURAKAMI et.al: "A bandpass filter using YIG film grown by LPE. For the above reasons, microwave apparatus utilising the magnetic resonance of the YIG thin film has practical advantages over conventional magnetic resonance devices using a YIG sphere. However, in microwave apparatus utilising ferrimagnetic resonance of the YIG thin film, the ferrimagnetic resonance frequency f of the YIG thin film is largely dependent upon the temperature T. Therefore, there arises a significant problem in practical use, namely that the temperature characteristics are not satisfactory. Such a problem will now be described. The ferrimagnetic resonance frequency f of the YIG thin film may be expressed in the following manner by using Kittel's equation, provided that an anisotropic field contribution to the resonance frequency is small enough to be neglected. f(T) = γ{Hg (T) - Nz Y 4πMs Y (T)} (1) where γ is the gyromagnetic ratio (γ = 2.8 MHz/Oe or 35 KHz/A/m); Hg is the D.C. bias magnetic field; Nz Y is the demagnetisation factor of the YIG thin film, which factor is calculated by using a magnetostatic mode theory; and 4πMs Y is the saturation magnetisation of the YIG film. All of f, Hg and 4πMs Y are functions of the temperature T. In one example of perpendicular resonance of a YIG disc having an aspect ratio (thickness/diameter) of 0.01, the demagnetisation factor Nz Y is 0.9774, and the saturation magnetisation 4πMs Y is 1916 G (Gauss) (0.1916T) at -20 o C, and 1622 G (0.1622T) at +60 o C, supposing that the bias magnetic field Hg is constant irrespective of temperature. Accordingly, the resonance frequency f can vary by 835 MHz in the temperature range of -20 o C to +60 o C. In order to avoid deviation in the resonance frequency due to environmental temperature in the YIG thin film microwave apparatus, there has been proposed a method for maintaining the YIG thin film magnetic resonance device at a constant temperature by placing the device in a thermostatic chamber, or alternatively a method for maintaining the resonance frequency of the device constant by changing a magnetic field in dependence on temperature by means of an electromagnet. However, these methods necessitate an external energy supply means such as a current controller, thereby making construction complicated. According to the present invention there is provided YIG thin film microwave apparatus comprising a YIG thin film device utilising the ferrimagnetic resonance effect, and a magnetic circuit having a gap of length ℓg in which said YIG thin film device is disposed and applying a bias magnetic field perpendicular to a film surface of said YIG thin film device, said magnetic circuit including a permanent magnet having a thickness ℓm end a soft magnetic plate having a thickness ℓx, characterised by said permanent magnet satisfying the characteristics: Br o > (fo/γ) + Nz Y 4πMso Y and said soft magnetic plate satisfying the characteristics: 4πMso x < (fo/γ) + N2 Y 4πMso Y wherein: fo is the resonance frequency of said YIG thin film device; γ is the gyromagnetic ratio of said YIG thin film; Nz Y is the demagnetisation factor of said YIG thin film; 4πMso Y is the saturation magnetisation of said YIG thin film at room temperature; 4πMso X is the saturation magnetisation of said soft magnetic plate; Br o is the remanence of said permanent magnet at room temperature; α₁ B is the first order temperature coefficient of the remanence of said permanent magnet at or near room temperature; α₁ Y is the first order temperature coefficient of the saturation magnetisation of said YIG thin film at or near room temperature; α₁ X is the first order temperature coefficient of the saturation magnetisation of said soft magnetic plate at or near room temperature; and wherein said thicknesses ℓm and ℓx are selected to improve the temperature characteristics of the resonance frequency of the apparatus. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a YIG thin film microwave apparatus which does not require an external circuit for compensating for the temperature characteristics, thereby involving no further power consumption for compensating for the temperature characteristics. The apparatus is capable of carrying out compensation of the temperature characteristics over a wide frequency range. The preferred YIG thin film microwave apparatus may be used either at a fixed frequency or at a variable frequency. According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a microwave apparatus of the above construction in which the YIG thin film is formed of substituted YIG material, where the trivalent iron ion Fe³⁺ in the YIG is partially substituted with a non-magnetic ion. Thus temperature compensation can be achieved by selecting the thickness of the permanent magnet ℓm, the thickness of the soft magnetic plate ℓx and the substituted amount δ expressed as a formula unit. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are referred to by like references, and in which: Figures 1, 4 and 5 are schematic views of YIG thin film microwave apparatus according to respective embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 is a graph illustrating the temperature characteristics of the saturation magnetisation of Mg-Mn-Al ferrite; Figures 3 and 6 are graphs illustrating the temperature characteristics against resonance frequency in a preferred embodiment of the microwave apparatus of the present invention; Figure 7 is a graph illustrating the temperature characteristics against the saturation magnetisation of the YIG; and Figure 8 is a graph illustrating the relationship between a Ga substituted quantity in the YIG and a variation Δf in the resonance frequency. Referring to Figure 1 which shows a YIG thin film microwave apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, a YIG thin film microwave device 1 includes strip lines (not shown) electromagnetically coupled to the YIG thin film, and a magnetic circuit 2 is arranged to apply a bias magnetic field to the microwave device 1. In one example, the magnetic circuit 2 comprises a U-shaped yoke 3, permanent magnets 4 each having a thickness ℓm and soft magnetic plates 5, for example made of soft ferrite, and each having a thickness ℓx. The permanent magnets 4 and the soft magnetic plates 5 are arranged on opposed surfaces at both end portions of the yoke 3 to define a magnetic gap g having a spacing of ℓg between the soft magnetic plates 5. The microwave device 1 is located in the magnetic gap g. In the magnetic circuit shown in Figure 1, supposing that all the magnetic flux passes through the magnetic gap g, the magnetic field in the gap g is uniform, and the permeability of the yoke is infinite, the following equations are derived from Maxwell's equations. Bm = Bx = Bg (2) ℓmHm = ℓgHg + ℓxHx (3) Where, Bm, Bx and Bg are the magnetic flux densities in the permanent magnet 4, the soft magnetic plate 5 and the magnetic gap g, respectively; and Hm, Hx and Hg are the magnetic fields in the permanent magnet 4, the soft magnetic plate 5 and the magnetic gap g, respectively, the direction of Hm being opposite to that of Hg, Hx, Bm, Bx and Bg. Supposing that the permanent magnet 4 does not have a knee point, and the recoil permeability of the permanent magnet 4 is constant, that is its demagnetisation curve shows linearity, the following Equation (4) is satisfied. Hm = 1 µr (Br -Bm) = 1 µr Br - Hg (4) Supposing that the soft magnetic (ferrite) plate 5 is sufficiently saturated, and its saturation magnetisation and demagnetisation factors are 4πMs X and Nz X , respectively, the magnetic field Hx in the soft ferrite plate is expressed by the following Equation (5). Hx = Hg - Nz x 4πMs X (5) Supposing that a change in the dimensions of the magnetic circuit due to thermal expansion is sufficiently small, and may be neglected, the magnetic field Hg in the gap of the magnetic circuit 2 is derived from Equations (3), (4) and (5) to give the following Equation (6) as a function of the temperature T. In consideration of the temperature coefficients α₁ B , α₂ B , α₁ Y , α₂ Y , α₁ X and α₂ X to the second order of the magnet, YIG and soft ferrite plate in a temperature range of ± several tens of o C about room temperature To, more specifically ±40C o , the remanence Br of the permanent magnet and the saturation magnetisation 4πMs Y of the YIG may be expressed with a sufficient accuracy as follows: Br(T) = Br o {1+α₁ B (T-To)+α₂ B (T-To)²} (7) 4πMs Y (T) = 4πMso Y {1+a₁ Y (T-To)+a₂ Y (T-To)²} (8) 4πMs x (T) = 4πMso x {1+α₁ x (T-To)+α₂ x (T-To)²} (9) To make the resonance frequency f(T) into a constant value independent of the temperature T, it is necessary to derive the following Equation (10) from Equations (1) and (6). Substituting Equations (7), (8) and (9) into Equation (10), and equating each term of the Oth, 1st and 2nd orders with respect to the temperature T, the following equations can be obtained. (ℓmBr o /µr)+ℓxN2 x 4πMso x ={ℓg+(ℓm/µr/)+ℓx} {(fo/γ)+Nz Y 4πMso Y } (11) (ℓmBr o α₁ B /µr)+ℓxN2 x 4πMso x α₁ x ={ℓg+(ℓm/µr)+ℓx} Nz Y 4πMso Y α₁ Y (12) (ℓmBr o α₂ B /µr)+ℓxN2 x 4πMso x α₂ x ={ℓg+(ℓm/µr)+ℓx} Nz Y 4πMso Y α₂ Y (13) Assuming that each material for the YIG, permanent magnet and soft magnetic plate is given, and the spacing ℓg of the magnetic gap is also given, it is impossible to obtain the combination of ℓm and ℓx simultaneously satisfying Equations (11), (12) and (13). Accordingly, the coefficients of the 0th order and the 1st order are equalised as primary terms. Namely, the values ℓm and ℓx satisfying Equations (11) and (12) are given as follows: It is appreciated from Equations (14) and (15) that the following conditions must be established so as to let ℓm and ℓx have a positive solution. Br o > (fo/γ) + Nz Y 4πMso Y (16) Nz x 4πMso x < (fo/γ) + Nz Y 4πMso Y (17) Since Nz≾ 1 in Expression (17), it is appreciated that Expression (17) always holds if the following condition is established. 4πMso x < (fo/γ) + Nz Y 4πMso Y (20) Accordingly, good temperature characteristics may be achieved by combining a permanent magnet material having a remanence Br at room temperature greater than (fo/γ)+Nz Y 4πMso Y and a 1st order temperature coefficient α₁ B of the remanence Br near the room temperature greater than Nz Y 4πMso Y .α₁ Y /{(fo/γ)+Nz Y 4πMso Y } , with a so-called soft magnetic plate having a saturation magnetisation 4πMso Y at room temperature smaller than (fo/γ)+Nz Y 4πMso Y and a 1st order temperature coefficient α₁ X of the saturation magnetisation 4πMs X near the room temperature smaller than Nz Y 4πMso Y .α₁ Y /{(fo/γ)+Nz Y 4πMso Y } . In the structure shown in Figure 1, the soft magnetic plate 5 is formed of Mg-Mn-Al ferrite having temperature characteristics as shown in Figure 2, and the permanent magnet 4 is formed of any one of: Nd₂Fe₁₄B magnet having Br = 11000 G, α₁ B = -1.2 x 10⁻³ and α₂ B = -0.75 x 10⁻⁶, CeCO₅ magnet having Br = 6000 G, α₁ B = -0.9 x 10⁻³ and α₂ B = 0, and SmCo₅ magnet having Br=8500 G, a₁ B = -0.5 x 10⁻³ and α₂ B = 0. The thicknesses ℓx and ℓm and frequency deviation Δ f in consideration of the 2nd order coefficient in the temperature range of -20 o C to +60 o C are as shown in Table I, Table II and Table III. In the above, the gap spacing ℓg was set to 3mm, and 4πMso X = 943.8 G (0.09438 T), α₁ X = -6.38 x 10⁻³ and α₂ X = -1.40 x 10⁻⁵ were set in view of Figure 2. In this case, it is appreciated that the conditions of Expressions (20) and (18) always hold irrespective of the frequency fo. Furthermore, as is apparent from Tables I to III, the realisable frequency fo has a certain range according to the kind of permanent magnet used. Figure 3 shows temperature characteristics against the resonance frequency of YIG in the case that the magnetic circuit 2 is formed by the combination of the Mg-Mn-Al soft ferrite plate 5 and the Nd₂Fe₁₄B magnet 4. As is apparent from Figure 3, the frequency variation Δf falls within a range of ±2.9 MHz with respect to a centre frequency of 1.575 GHz in the temperature range of -20 o C to + 60 o C. Although the magnetic circuit 2 is constituted of one kind of permanent magnet 4 and one kind of soft ferrite plate 5 in the aforementioned embodiment, two kinds of magnet and one kind of soft ferrite plate may instead be combined to form the magnetic circuit. Figure 4 shows a magnetic circuit 2 formed by combining two kinds of permanent magnet 4a and 4b with the soft ferrite plate 5. In this case, the following equation (21) corresponding to Equation (6) is derived. Where, Br₁ and Br₂ are the remanences of the permanent magnets 4a and 4b, respectively; µr₁ and µr₂ are the recoil permeabilities of the permanent magnets 4a and 4b, respectively; and ℓm₁ and ℓm₂ are the total thicknesses of the permanent magnets 4a and 4b, respectively. Representing the sum of the respective thicknesses of the permanent magnets 4a and 4b by ℓm t , the following equation can be obtained. ℓm t = ℓm₁ + ℓm₂ (22) Representing an average recoil permeability of the whole of the permanent magnets 4a and 4b by r, ℓm t / r = (ℓm₁/µr₁) + (ℓm₂/µr₂) is given, and the following equation is derived therefrom. Representing an average remanence of the permanent magnets 4a and 4b by Br(T), the following equation can be obtained. Substituting the following equations into Equation (24), Br₁(T) = Br₁ o {1+α₁ B ₁ (T-To)+α₂B₁ (T-To)²} Br₂(T) = Br₂ o {1+α₁ B ₂ (T-To)+α₂ B ₂ (T-To)²} and comparing each term of the 0th, 1st and 2nd orders with respect to the temperature on both sides, the following equations can be obtained. Representing a ratio of the thickness of the permanent magnets 4a and 4b by a = ℓm₁/ ℓm₂, a ratio of the recoil permeabilities of the permanent magnets 4a and 4b by b = µr₁/µr₂, and a ratio of the remanences of the permanent magnets 4a and 4b at room temperature by c = Br₁ o /Br₂ o , Equation (25) can be expressed as follows: Defining each parameter as mentioned above, Equation (21) can be expressed in the same form as Equation (6) as follows: Deriving from Equation (27), the following Expressions (28) and (29) corresponding to Expressions (16) and (18) can be obtained. In summary, provided that the ratios a, b and c are defined by a = ℓm₁/ℓm₂, b = µr₁/µr₂, and c = Br₁ o /Br₂ o , respectively, good temperature characteristics may be achieved by combining the permanent magnets 4a and 4b having the average remanence o at room temperature satisfying Equation (28) and the 1st order temperature coefficient ₁ B of the average remanence satisfying Equation (29), o and ₁ B being defined by Equation (26), with the soft ferrite plate having the saturation magnetisation 4πMso X at room temperature smaller than (fo/γ)+Nz Y 4πMso Y and the 1st order temperature coefficient α₁ X of the saturation magnetisation 4πMso X near the room temperature smaller than Nz Y 4πMso Y .α₁ Y /{(fo/γ)+Nz Y 4πMso Y } . As is mentioned above, the use of the soft ferrite plate in combination with the two kinds of permanent magnets 4a and 4b is more advantageous than the case of using only two kinds of permanent magnets 4a and 4b. In the case that two kinds of permanent magnets only are used, the remanence Br of the permanent magnets varies to a relatively significant extent, and it is difficult to cut the magnets after being magnetised. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the gap spacing finally, so as to let the resonance frequency of the YIG thin film accord with a required frequency. However, if the gap spacing ℓg is different from the set value, the temperature characteristics are disadvantageously changed. On the other hand, in the case that a soft ferrite plate is used in combination with the permanent magnets, the temperature characteristics are so adjusted as to accord substantially with an objective or required value by the soft ferrite plate, while the slippage or variation of the temperature characteristics generated by the adjustment of the gap spacing due to variation in the remanence of the permanent magnets may be finally finely adjusted by the soft ferrite plate. Namely, the resonance frequency and the temperature characteristics may be simultaneously brought into accordance with the require or objective value. Figure 5 shows a magnetic circuit 2 using one kind of permanent magnet 4 and two kinds of first and second soft ferrite plates 5a and 5b formed of different materials. In this case, the following Equation (30) corresponding to Equation (6) can be derived. Where 4πMs X1 and 4πMs X2 are saturation magnetisations of the first and second soft ferrite plates 5a and 5b, respectively; Nz X1 and Nz X2 are demagnetisation factors of the soft ferrite plates 5a and 5b, respectively; and ℓx₁ and ℓx₂ are total thicknesses of the soft ferrite plates 5a and 5b, respectively. Representing the sum of respective thicknesses of the soft ferrite plates 5a and 5b by ℓx t , the following equation can be derived. ℓx t = ℓx₁ + ℓx₂ (31) Representing an average demagnetisation of the soft ferrite plates 5a and 5b by X and an average saturation magnetisation of the soft ferrite plates 5a and 5b by 4πMs X (T), the following equation can be drived. Therefore, the following equation is obtained. Substituting the following equations into Equation (32), and comparing each term of the 0th, 1st and 2nd orders with respect to the temperature on both sides, the following equations can be obtained. Representing a ratio of the thicknesses of the soft ferrite plates 5a and 5b by a = ℓx₁/ℓx₂, a ratio of the demagnetisation factors of the soft ferritc plates 5a and 5b by b = Nz X1 /Nz X2 and a ratio of the saturation magnetisations of the soft ferrite plates 5a and 5b at room temperature by c = 4πMso X1 /4πMso X2 , Equation (33) can be also expressed as follows: Defining each parameter as mentioned above, Equation (34) can be expressed in the same form as Equation (6) as follows: Deriving from Equation (35), the following Expressions (36) and (37) corresponding to Expressions (17) and (18) can be obtained. In summary, provided that the ratios a, b and c are defined by a = ℓx₁/ℓx₂, b = Nz X1 /Nz X2 , and c = 4πMso X1 /4πMso X2 , respectively, good temperature characteristics may be achieved by combining a soft ferrite plate having the product X . Mso X of the average demagnetisation factor and the average saturation magnetisation factor and the average saturation magnetisation at room temperature, which product satisfies Equation (38), and the 1st order temperature coefficient α₁ X of the average saturation magnetisation satisfying Equation (37), with the permanent magnet 4 under the aforementioned conditions, which has the remanence Br at room temperature greater than (fo/γ)+Nz Y 4πMso Y and the 1st order temperature coefficient α₁ B of the remanence Br near the room temperature greater than Nz Y 4πMso Y .α₁ Y /{(fo/γ)+Nz Y 4πMso Y }. Although the present invention has been described as applied to a microwave apparatus using a fixed frequency in the above embodiment, it may be applied to a variable type YIG thin film microwave apparatus including a coil (not shown) wound around the yoke 3 in the magnetic circuit 2. As is described above, a gradient in the temperature characteristics of the resonance frequency can be nullified by determining ℓm and ℓx satisfying Equations (11) and (12). However, a curvature of the temperature characteristics cannot be compensated by these conditions only. That is to say, as shown in Figure 1, the magnetic circuit of the YIG thin film microwave apparatus having a centre frequency of 1.575 GHz is formed by using Mg-Mn-Al ferrite having the temperature characteristics shown in Figure 2 as the soft magnetic plate 5 and Nd₂Fe₁₄B magnet as the permanent magnet 4. As to variation in the centre frequency in the temperature range of -55 o C to +70 o C, the microwave apparatus shows temperature characteristics having an upper convex curve with a variation range of 25.5 MHz as shown in Figure 6. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to make a compensated part of the temperature characteristics by the ferrite large as the centre frequency of the microwave device is lowered, resulting in that the upper convex curve exhibited by the ferrite is largely reflected on the temperature characteristics of the YIG thin film microwave apparatus. The microwave device 1 is constituted of a substitution type YIG, and accordingly the compensated part of the temperature characteristics by the ferrite may be reduced to nullify the upper convex curvature when a substituted quantity δ is zero. In other words, three unknown quantities consisting of the substituted quantity δ of the substitution type YIG, the thickness ℓm of the permanent magnet and the thickness ℓx of the soft ferrite plate may be determined so as to simultaneously satisfy Equations (11), (12) and (13), and accordingly the curvature of the temperature characteristics as well as the gradient may be nullfied. If materials of the permanent magnet and the ferrite, the shape of the YIG thin film, the resonance frequency and the gap spacing are previously given, Br o , α₁ B , α₂ B , µr, 4πMso X , α₁ X , α₂ X , Nz Y , fo/γ , and ℓg are constants as predetermined. Nz Y is not an independent variable since it is determined by the thickness ℓx of the ferrite. Further, if the substituted quantity δ of a non-magnetic ion for Fe³⁺ ion in the YIG is determined, 4πMso Y , α₁ Y and α₂ Y are also determined. After all, the independent unknown quantities comprise δ, ℓm and ℓx. Accordingly, if the three unknown quantities δ, ℓm and ℓx are determined from Equations (11), (12) and (13), these are the conditions for obtaining a fixed resonance frequency fo in consideration of the temperature characteristics to the 2nd order. That is to say, if the substitution type YIG thin film microwave device is used, and the substituted quantity δ is selected, the curvature of the temperature characteristics may be also compensated. In connection with the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the microwave device 1 is formed by a substitution type YIG thin film, for example a thin film formed by substituting a trivalent non-magnetic ion such as Ga³⁺ and Al³⁺ for a part of Fe³⁺ of the YIG, or by combining divalent and tetravalent non-magnetic ions Ca²⁺ and Ge⁴⁺ to equivalently substitute a trivalent ion for Fe³⁺ of the YIG. A change in saturation magnetisation of the substitution type YIG, that is, a change in saturation magnetisation due to substitution of the non-magnetic ion for Fe³⁺ ion of the YIG will now be investigated. Firstly, the change compared to a pure single crystal of YIG will be investigated. In the pure single crystal of YIG (Y₃Fe₅O₁₂), three Fe³⁺ ions are located at the tetrahedral site, and two Fe³⁺ ions are located at the octahedral site. The Fe³⁺ ions at the tetrahedral site and the Fe³⁺ ions at the octahedral site are arranged in antiparallel relation with each other by strong negative superexchange interaction. As a result, the saturation magnetisation of YIG is depedent on a magnetic moment of 5 Bohr magneton (5µB) owned by one Fe³⁺ ion remaining as the result of balance of the five Fe³⁺ ions in the antiparallel arrangement. In the case that a trivalent ion, for example Ga³⁺, is substituted for a part of the Fe³⁺ ions of the pure YIG, all of the trivalent ion will be substituted for the Fe³⁺ ions at the tetrahedrel site if the substituted quantity δ is not so large. Therefore, the magnetic moment in one molecule is given as follows: 5µ B x {(3-δ)-2}=5(1-δ)µ B Accordingly, the saturation magnetisation is reduced. The saturation magnetisation of Ga substituted YIG is reported in J. of Applied Physics Vol. 45, No. 6, 6, 1974, p.2728 - 2730. Using Equations (1) to (4) in this literature, and examining a change in the saturation magnetisation with respect to temperature when the Ga substituted quantity is changed, there may be obtained the characteristics as shown in Figure 7. Referring to Figure 7, the curved lines (21) to (29) correspond to the substituted quantities δ = 0, 0.3, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8, respectively. Further, there are shown in Table IV calculated values of the saturation magnetisation 4πMso Y at a central temperature of 7.5 o C and the 1st and 2nd order temperature coefficient α₁ Y and α₂ Y at - 55 o C to +70 o C with respect to each of the Ga substituted quantities δ, which values are obtained by a method of least squares. Then, the soft magnetic plate 5 shown in Figure 1 is formed by Mg-Mn-Al ferrite having the temperature characteristics shown in Figure 2, and the permanent magnet 4 is formed by one of Md₂Fe₁₄B, CeCO₅ and 5mCo₅ to thereby form a YIG thin film filter having a centre frequency of 1.575 GHz. In this connection, there are shown in Table V calculated values of a necessary thickness ℓm of the permanent magnet, a necesary thickness ℓx of the ferrite, and the frequency variation Δf at - 55 o C to + 70 o C. A change in the frequency variation Δf with respect to the Ga substituted quantity δ is plotted in Figure 8. Referring to Figure 8, curved lines (70A), (70B) and (70C) correspond to the cases of using Nd₂Fe₁₄B magnet, CeCo₅ magnet and SmCo₅ magnet, respectively. In all the cases, Δf is positive at δ = 0, and the temperature characteristics show an upper convex curvature. Further, Δf is decreased with a decrease in δ. As δ is further decreased, Δf becomes negative, and the temperature characteristics show a lower convex curvature. Thus, it is appreciated that the temperature characteristics of Δf = 0 is obtained by selecting the value of δ. In other words, it is possible to nullify a gradient and curvature of the temperature characteristics of the resonance frequency of YIG by selecting a substituted quantity of a non-magnetic ion for the Fe³⁺ ion in the YIG thin film of the microwave device according to the materials of the permanent magnet and the soft magnetic plate. Although the present invention has been described as applied to a microwave apparatus using a fixed frequency in the above embodiment, it may be applied to a variable type YIG thin film microwave apparatus including a coil (not shown) wound around the yoke 3 in the magnetic circuit 2. As has been described above, microwave apparatus having good temperature characteristics may be provided by employing a permanent magnet and a soft magnetic plate each having respective specific characteristics in a magnetic circuit for applying a bias magnetic field to a microwave device which utilises the magnetic resonance of the YIG thin film. Furthermore, since it is possible to provide microwave apparatus having good temperature characteristics where both gradient and curvature of the temperature characteristics are compensated for, the extent of utilisation of the microwave apparatus may be enlarged to increase the industrial advantage by effectively employing the YIG thin film feature of the microwave apparatus, which is superior in terms of mass production, as previously mentioned.

Claims: YIG thin film microwave apparatus comprising a YIG thin film device (1) utilising the ferrimagnetic resonance effect, and a magnetic circuit (2) having a gap of length ℓg in which said YIG thin film device (1) is disposed and applying a bias magnetic field perpendicular to a film surface of said YIG thin film device (1), said magnetic circuit (2) including a permanent magnet (4) having a thickness ℓm and a soft magnetic plate (5) having a thickness ℓx, characterised by said permanent magnet (4) satisfying the characteristics: Br o > (fo/γ) + Nz Y 4πMso Y and said soft magnetic plate (5) satisfying the characteristics: 4πMso x < (fo/γ) + Nz Y 4πMso Y wherein: fo is the resonance frequency of said YIG thin film device (1); γ is the gyromagnetic ratio of said YIG thin film; Nz Y is the demagnetisation factor of said YIG thin film; 4πMso Y is the saturation magnetisation of said YIG thin film at room temperature; 4πMso X is the saturation magnetisation of said soft magnetic plate (5); Br o is the remanence of said permanent magnet (4) at room temperature; α₁ B is the first order temperature coefficient of the remanence of said permanent magnet (4) at or near room temperature; α₁ Y is the first order temperature coefficient of the saturation magnetisation of said YIG thin film at or near room temperature; α₁ X is the first order temperature coefficient of the saturation magnetisation of said soft magnetic plate (5) at or near room temperature; and wherein said thicknesses ℓm and ℓx are selected to improve the temperature characteristics of the resonance frequency of the apparatus. YIG thin film microwave apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said YIG thin film device (1) is formed of a substituted YIG thin film in which part of the Fe³⁺ ion content is substituted by an amount δ of a non-magnetic element, the amount δ being expressed as a formula unit, and wherein, in addition to said thicknesses ℓm and ℓx, the amount δ is selected to improve the temperature characteristics of the resonance frequency of the apparatus.

Inventors: ITO, SEIGO C/O PAT. DIV. SONY CORP., MIYAKE, MASAMI C/O PAT. DIV. SONY CORP., MURAKAMI, YOSHIKAZU C/O PAT. DIV. SONY CORP., TAMADA, HITOSHI C/O PAT. DIV. SONY CORP., TANAKA, HIDEO C/O PAT. DIV. SONY CORP., YAMADA, TOSHIRO C/O PAT. DIV. SONY CORP.
Applicants: SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1986
Main classification: H01P1
IPC codes: H01F10, H01P1