Static and dynamic properties of a gadolinium garnet

The experimental results are reported for a series of measurements made on a single-crystal gadolinium garnet, with a view to obtaining the characteristics which appeared necessary for the use of garnets as memory elements. In particular, variations in the hysteresis loop as a function of the temperature are discussed in order to obtain the dependence of the rectangularity on the temperature. The rectangularity has been found approximately equal to 1 from 5 to 20°C. The variations in switching time as a function of the amplitude and the rise time of the magnetic excitation field and as a function of the temperature have also been studied. Switching times of 1 μs can easily be obtained. Evidence is also shown of a dependence of the coercive field upon the rise time of the driving signal.