Generation of pulse trains by current-controlled magnetic mirrors

The evolution of a spin-wave packet trapped between two direct current-carrying wires placed on the surface of a ferrite film is observed by Brillouin light scattering. The wires act as semi-transparent mirrors confining the packet. Because the spin-wave energy partially passes through these mirrors, trains of spin-wave packets are generated outside the trap. A numerical model of this process is presented and applied to the case when the current in the wires is dynamically controlled. This dynamical control of the mirror reflectivity provides new functionalities interesting for the field of spin-wave logic like that of a spin-wave memory cell.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Phase sensitive Brillouin scattering measurements with a novel magneto-optic modulator

A recently reported phase sensitive Brillouin light scattering technique is improved by use of a magnetic modulator. This modulator is based on Brillouin light scattering in a thin ferrite film. Using this magnetic modulator in time- and space Brillouin light scattering measurements we have increased phase contrast and excluded influence of optical inhomogeneities in the sample. We also demonstrate that the quality of the resulting interference patterns can be improved by data postprocessing using the simultaneously recorded information about the reference light

Formation of guided spin-wave bullets in ferrimagnetic film stripes

The formation of quasi-2D nonlinear spin-wave eigenmodes in longitudinally magnetized stripes of a ferrimagnetic film, so-called guided spin-wave bullets, was experimentally observed by using time- and space-resolved Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy and confirmed by numerical simulation. They represent stable spin-wave packets propagating along a waveguide structure, for which both transversal instability and interaction with the side edges of the waveguide are important. The experiments and the numerical simulation of the evolution of the spin-wave excitations show that the shape of the formed packets and their behavior are strongly influenced by the confinement conditions. The discovery of these modes demonstrates the existence of quasi-stable nonlinear solutions in the transition regime between one-dimensional and two-dimensional wave packet propagation.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Scattering of backward spin waves in a one-dimensional magnonic crystal

Scattering of backward volume magnetostatic spin waves from a one-dimensional magnonic crystal, realized by a grating of shallow grooves etched into the surface of an yttrium-iron garnet film, was experimentally studied. Rejection frequency bands were clearly observed. The rejection efficiency and the frequency width of the rejection bands increase with increasing groove depth. A theoretical model based on the analogy of a spin-wave film-waveguide with a microwave transmission line was used to interpret the obtained experimental results.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Low-damping transmission of spin waves through YIG/Pt-based layered structures for spin-orbit-torque applications

We show that in YIG-Pt bi-layers, which are widely used in experiments on the spin transfer torque and spin Hall effects, the spin-wave amplitude significantly decreases in comparison to a single YIG film due to the excitation of microwave eddy currents in a Pt coat. By introducing a novel excitation geometry, where the Pt layer faces the ground plane of a microstrip line structure, we suppressed the excitation of the eddy currents in the Pt layer and, thus, achieved a large increase in the transmission of the Damon-Eshbach surface spin wave. At the same time, no visible influence of an external dc current applied to the Pt layer on the spin-wave amplitude in the YIG-Pt bi-layer was observed in our experiments with YIG films of micrometer thickness

Magnonic crystal based forced dominant wavenumber selection in a spin-wave active ring

Spontaneous excitation of the dominant mode in a spin-wave active ring -- a self-exciting positive-feedback system incorporating a spin-wave transmission structure -- occurs at a certain threshold value of external gain. In general, the wavenumber of the dominant mode is extremely sensitive to the properties and environment of the spin-wave transmission medium, and is almost impossible to predict. In this letter, we report on a backward volume magnetostatic spin-wave active ring system incorporating a magnonic crystal. When mode enhancement conditions -- readily predicted by a theoretical model -- are satisfied, the ring geometry permits highly robust and consistent forced dominant wavenumber selection.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure