Low-loss YIG-based magnonic crystals with large tunable bandgaps

Magnetization dynamics in single and trilayer nanowires

We have studied the magnetization dynamics of single Py(t) (t= 20 nm, 50 nm) and trilayer [Py(50)/Pd(tPd)/Py(20)] nanowire arrays fabricated over large areas using deep ultraviolet lithography technique. The dynamic properties are sensitive to the field orientation and magnetic film thicknesses. A single resonant mode corresponding to the excitations at the bulk part of the wire is detected in all the single-layer nanowire arrays. Furthermore, the spacer layer thickness influenced the dynamic properties in trilayer samples due to the different coupling mechanisms. A single resonant mode is observed intPd= 2 nm trilayer nanowires with a sharp frequency jump from 13 GHz to 15 GHz across the reversal regime. This indicates the exchange coupling and the coherence in magnetization precession in the ferromagnetic layers. On the other hand, wires with 10 nm-spacer display two well-resolved modes separated by ∼3 GHz with a gradual change in frequency across the reversal regime from-26mT to-46mT, indicating the presence of long-range dipolar interactions instead of exchange coupling. The spacer layer of the proposed spin-valve-type structure can be tailored for desired microwave splitters or combiners.

A Strategy for Enhancing Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy in Yttrium Iron Garnet Films

In future information storage and processing, magnonics is one of the most promising candidates to replace traditional microelectronics. Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) have aroused widespread interest in magnonics. Obtaining strong PMA in a thick YIG film with a small lattice mismatch (η) has been fascinating but challenging. Here, a novel strategy is proposed to reduce the required minimum strain value for producing PMA and increase the maximum thickness for maintaining PMA in YIG films by slight oxygen deficiency. Strong PMA is achieved in the YIG film with an η of only 0.4% and a film thickness up to 60 nm, representing the strongest PMA for such a small η reported so far. Combining transmission electron microscopy analyses, magnetic measurements, and a theoretical model, it is demonstrated that the enhancement of PMA physically originates from the reduction of saturation magnetization and the increase of magnetostriction coefficient induced by oxygen deficiency. The Gilbert damping values of the 60-nm-thick YIG films with PMA are on the order of 10-4. This strategy improves the flexibility for the practical applications of YIG-based magnonic devices and provides promising insights for the theoretical understanding and the experimental enhancement of PMA in garnet films.

Magnon-Skyrmion Hybrid Quantum Systems: Tailoring Interactions via Magnons

Coherent and dissipative interactions between different quantum systems are essential for the construction of hybrid quantum systems and the investigation of novel quantum phenomena. Here, we propose and analyze a magnon-skyrmion hybrid quantum system, consisting of a micromagnet and nearby magnetic skyrmions. We predict a strong-coupling mechanism between the magnonic mode of the micromagnet and the quantized helicity degree of freedom of the skyrmion. We show that with this hybrid setup it is possible to induce magnon-mediated nonreciprocal interactions and responses between distant skyrmion qubits or between skyrmion qubits and other quantum systems like superconducting qubits. This work provides a quantum platform for the investigation of diverse quantum effects and quantum information processing with magnetic microstructures.

Long-Distance Coherent Propagation of High-Velocity Antiferromagnetic Spin Waves

We report on coherent propagation of antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin waves over a long distance (∼10  μm) at room temperature in a canted AFM α-Fe_{2}O_{3} owing to the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). Unprecedented high group velocities (up to 22.5  km/s) are characterized by microwave transmission using all-electrical spin wave spectroscopy. We derive analytically AFM spin-wave dispersion in the presence of the DMI which accounts for our experimental results. The AFM spin waves excited by nanometric coplanar waveguides have large wave vectors in the exchange regime and follow a quasilinear dispersion relation. Fitting of experimental data with our theoretical model yields an AFM exchange stiffness length of 1.7  Å. Our results provide key insights on AFM spin dynamics and demonstrate high-speed functionality for AFM magnonics.

Reconfigurable Spin-Wave Interferometer at the Nanoscale

Spin waves can transfer information free of electron transport and are promising for wave-based computing technologies with low-power consumption as a solution to severe energy losses in modern electronics. Logic circuits based on the spin-wave interference have been proposed for more than a decade, while it has yet been realized at the nanoscale. Here, we demonstrate the interference of spin waves with wavelengths down to 50 nm in a low-damping magnetic insulator. The constructive and destructive interference of spin waves is detected in the frequency domain using propagating spin-wave spectroscopy, which is further confirmed by the Brillouin light scattering. The interference pattern is found to be highly sensitive to the distance between two magnetic nanowires acting as spin-wave emitters. By controlling the magnetic configurations, one can switch the spin-wave interferometer on and off. Our demonstrations are thus key to the realization of spin-wave computing system based on nonvolatile nanomagnets.

Electric-Field Control of Propagating Spin Waves by Ferroelectric Domain-Wall Motion in a Multiferroic Heterostructure

Magnetoelectric coupling in multiferroic heterostructures offers a promising platform for electric-field control of magnonic devices based on low-power spin-wave transport. Here, electric-field manipulation of the amplitude and phase of propagating spin waves in a ferromagnetic Fe film on top of a ferroelectric BaTiO3 substrate is demonstrated experimentally. Electric-field effects in this composite material system are mediated by strain coupling between alternating ferroelectric stripe domains with in-plane and perpendicular polarization and fully correlated magnetic anisotropy domains with differing spin-wave transport properties. The propagation of spin waves across the strain-induced magnetic anisotropy domains of the Fe film is directly imaged and it is shown how reversible electric-field-driven motion of ferroelectric domain walls and pinned anisotropy boundaries turns the spin-wave signal on and off. Furthermore, linear electric-field tuning of the spin-wave phase by altering the width of strain-coupled stripe domains is demonstrated. The results provide a new route toward energy-efficient reconfigurable magnonics.

Voltage-Controlled Reconfigurable Magnonic Crystal at the Sub-micrometer Scale

Multiferroics offer an elegant means to implement voltage control and on the fly reconfigurability in microscopic, nanoscaled systems based on ferromagnetic materials. These properties are particularly interesting for the field of magnonics, where spin waves are used to perform advanced logical or analogue functions. Recently, the emergence of nanomagnonics is expected to eventually lead to the large-scale integration of magnonic devices. However, a compact voltage-controlled, on demand reconfigurable magnonic system has yet to be shown. Here, we introduce the combination of multiferroics with ferromagnets in a fully epitaxial heterostructure to achieve such voltage-controlled and reconfigurable magnonic systems. Imprinting a remnant electrical polarization in thin multiferroic BiFeO₃ with a periodicity of 500 nm yields a modulation of the effective magnetic field in the micrometer-scale, ferromagnetic La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ magnonic waveguide. We evidence the magnetoelectric coupling by characterizing the spin wave propagation spectrum in this artificial, voltage induced, magnonic crystal and demonstrate the occurrence of a robust magnonic band gap with >20 dB rejection.

Propagation of Spin Waves in a 2D Vortex Network

Efficient propagation of spin waves in a magnetically coupled vortex is crucial to the development of future magnonic devices. Thus far, only a double vortex can serve as spin-wave emitter or oscillator; the propagation of spin waves in the higher-order vortex is still lacking. Here, we experimentally realize a higher-order vortex (2D vortex network) by a designed nanostructure, containing four cross-type chiral substructures. We employ this vortex network as a waveguide to propagate short-wavelength spin waves (∼100 nm) and demonstrate the possibility of guiding spin waves from one vortex to the network. It is observed that the spin waves can propagate into the network through the nanochannels formed by the Bloch-Néel-type domain walls, with a propagation decay length of several micrometers. This technique paves the way for the development of low-energy, reprogrammable, and miniaturized magnonic devices.

Tunable Damping in Magnetic Nanowires Induced by Chiral Pumping of Spin Waves

Spin-current and spin-wave-based devices have been considered as promising candidates for next-generation information transport and processing and wave-based computing technologies with low-power consumption. Spin pumping has attracted tremendous attention and has led to interesting phenomena, including the line width broadening, which indicates damping enhancement due to energy dissipation. Recently, chiral spin pumping of spin waves has been experimentally realized and theoretically studied in magnetic nanostructures. Here, we experimentally observe by Brillouin light scattering (BLS) microscopy the line width broadening sensitive to magnetization configuration in a hybrid metal-insulator nanostructure consisting of a Co nanowire grating dipolarly coupled to a planar continuous YIG film, consistent with the results of the measured hysteresis loop. Tunable line width broadening has been confirmed independently by propagating spin-wave spectroscopy, where unidirectional spin waves are detected. Position-dependent BLS measurement unravels an oscillating-like behavior of magnon populations in Co nanowire grating, which might result from the magnon trap effect. These results are thus attractive for reconfigurable nanomagnonics devices.

Building Blocks for Magnon Optics: Emission and Conversion of Short Spin Waves

Magnons have proven to be a promising candidate for low-power wave-based computing. The ability to encode information not only in amplitude but also in phase allows for increased data transmission rates. However, efficiently exciting nanoscale spin waves for a functional device requires sophisticated lithography techniques and therefore, remains a challenge. Here, we report on a method to measure the full spin wave isofrequency contour for a given frequency and field. A single antidot within a continuous thin film excites wave vectors along all directions within a single excitation geometry. Varying structural parameters or introducing Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction allows the manipulation and control of the isofrequency contour, which is desirable for the fabrication of future magnonic devices. Additionally, the same antidot structure is utilized as a multipurpose spin wave device. Depending on its position with respect to the microstrip antenna, it can either be an emitter for short spin waves or a directional converter for incoming plane waves. Using simulations we show that such a converter structure is capable of generating a coherent spin wave beam. By introducing a short wavelength spin wave beam into existing magnonic gate logic, it is conceivable to reduce the size of devices to the micrometer scale. This method gives access to short wavelength spin waves to a broad range of magnonic devices without the need for refined sample preparation techniques. The presented toolbox for spin wave manipulation, emission, and conversion is a crucial step for spin wave optics and gate logic.

Chiral Magnonics: Reprogrammable Nanoscale Spin Wave Networks Based on Chiral Domain Walls

Spin waves offer promising perspectives as information carriers for future computational architectures beyond conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, owing to their benefits for device minimizations and low-ohmic losses. Although plenty of magnonic devices have been proposed previously, scalable nanoscale networks based on spin waves are still missing. Here, we demonstrate a reprogrammable two-dimensional spin wave network by combining the chiral exchange spin waves and chiral domain walls. The spin-wave network can be extended to two dimensions and offers unprecedented control of exchange spin waves. Each cell in the network can excite, transmit, and detect spin waves independently in the chiral domain wall, and spin-wave logics are also demonstrated. Our results open up perspectives for integrating spin waves into future logic and computing circuits and networks.

Magnonic crystals: towards terahertz frequencies

This topical review presents an overview of the recent experimental and theoretical attempts on designing magnonic crystals for operation at different frequencies. The focus is put on the microscopic physical mechanisms involved in the formation of the magnonic band structure, allowed as well as forbidden magnon states in various systems, including ultrathin films, multilayers and artificial magnetic structures. The essential criteria for the formation of magnonic bandgaps in different frequency regimes are explained in connection with the magnon dynamics in such structures. The possibility of designing small-size magnonic crystals for operation at ultrahigh frequencies (terahertz and sub-terahertz regime) is discussed. Recently discovered magnonic crystals based on topological defects and using periodic Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, are outlined. Different types of magnonic crystals, capable of operation at different frequency regimes, are put within a rather unified picture.

Magnetization dynamics in artificial spin ice

In this topical review, we present key results of studies on magnetization dynamics in artificial spin ice (ASI), which are arrays of magnetically interacting nanostructures. Recent experimental and theoretical progress in this emerging area, which is at the boundary between research on frustrated magnetism and high-frequency studies of artificially created nanomagnets, is reviewed. The exploration of ASI structures has revealed fascinating discoveries in correlated spin systems. Artificially created spin ice lattices offer unique advantages as they allow for a control of the interactions between the elements by their geometric properties and arrangement. Magnonics, on the other hand, is a field that explores spin dynamics in the gigahertz frequency range in magnetic micro- and nanostructures. In this context, magnonic crystals are particularly important as they allow the modification of spin-wave properties and the observation of band gaps in the resonance spectra. Very recently, there has been considerable progress, experimentally and theoretically, in combining aspects of both fields-artificial spin ice and magnonics-enabling new functionalities in magnonic and spintronic applications using ASI, as well as providing a deeper understanding of geometrical frustration in the gigahertz range. Different approaches for the realization of ASI structures and their experimental characterization in the high-frequency range are described and the appropriate theoretical models and simulations are reviewed. Special attention is devoted to linking these findings to the quasi-static behavior of ASI and dynamic investigations in magnonics in an effort to bridge the gap between both areas further and to stimulate new research endeavors.