Nonlinear Magnon Polaritons.

We experimentally and theoretically demonstrate that nonlinear spin-wave interactions suppress the hybrid magnon-photon quasiparticle or "magnon polariton" in microwave spectra of a yttrium iron garnet film detected by an on-chip split-ring resonator. We observe a strong coupling between the Kittel and microwave cavity modes in terms of an avoided crossing as a function of magnetic fields at low microwave input powers, but a complete closing of the gap at high powers. The experimental results are well explained by a theoretical model including the three-magnon decay of the Kittel magnon into spin waves. The gap closure originates from the saturation of the ferromagnetic resonance above the Suhl instability threshold by a coherent backreaction from the spin waves.

Nonlocal Detection of Interlayer Three-Magnon Coupling.

A leading nonlinear effect in magnonics is the interaction that splits a high-frequency magnon into two low-frequency magnons with conserved linear momentum. Here, we report experimental observation of nonlocal three-magnon scattering between spatially separated magnetic systems, viz. a CoFeB nanowire and a yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thin film. Above a certain threshold power of an applied microwave field, a CoFeB Kittel magnon splits into a pair of counterpropagating YIG magnons that induce voltage signals in Pt electrodes on each side, in excellent agreement with model calculations based on the interlayer dipolar interaction. The excited YIG magnon pairs reside mainly in the first excited (n=1) perpendicular standing spin-wave mode. With increasing power, the n=1 magnons successively scatter into nodeless (n=0) magnons through a four-magnon process. Our results demonstrate nonlocal detection of two separately propagating magnons emerging from one common source that may enable quantum entanglement between distant magnons for quantum information applications.

Broadband microwave detection using electron spins in a hybrid diamond-magnet sensor chip.

Quantum sensing has developed into a main branch of quantum science and technology. It aims at measuring physical quantities with high resolution, sensitivity, and dynamic range. Electron spins in diamond are powerful magnetic field sensors, but their sensitivity in the microwave regime is limited to a narrow band around their resonance frequency. Here, we realize broadband microwave detection using spins in diamond interfaced with a thin-film magnet. A pump field locally converts target microwave signals to the sensor-spin frequency via the non-linear spin-wave dynamics of the magnet. Two complementary conversion protocols enable sensing and high-fidelity spin control over a gigahertz bandwidth, allowing characterization of the spin-wave band at multiple gigahertz above the sensor-spin frequency. The pump-tunable, hybrid diamond-magnet sensor chip opens the way for spin-based gigahertz material characterizations at small magnetic bias fields.

High-Performance THz Emitters Based on Ferromagnetic/Nonmagnetic Heterostructures.

A low-cost, intense, broadband, noise resistive, magnetic field controllable, flexible, and low power driven THz emitter based on thin nonmagnetic/ferromagnetic metallic heterostructures is demonstrated. The THz emission origins from the inverse spin Hall Effect. The proposed devices are not only promising for a wide range of THz equipment, but also offer an alternative approach to characterize the spin-orbit interaction in nonmagnetic/ferromagnetic bilayers.

Room temperature magnetization switching in topological insulator-ferromagnet heterostructures by spin-orbit torques.

Topological insulators with spin-momentum-locked topological surface states are expected to exhibit a giant spin-orbit torque in the topological insulator/ferromagnet systems. To date, the topological insulator spin-orbit torque-driven magnetization switching is solely reported in a Cr-doped topological insulator at 1.9 K. Here we directly show giant spin-orbit torque-driven magnetization switching in a Bi2Se3/NiFe heterostructure at room temperature captured using a magneto-optic Kerr effect microscope. We identify a large charge-to-spin conversion efficiency of ~1-1.75 in the thin Bi2Se3 films, where the topological surface states are dominant. In addition, we find the current density required for the magnetization switching is extremely low, ~6 × 105 A cm-2, which is one to two orders of magnitude smaller than that with heavy metals. Our demonstration of room temperature magnetization switching of a conventional 3d ferromagnet using Bi2Se3 may lead to potential innovations in topological insulator-based spintronic applications.

Magnetization reversal using excitation of collective modes in nanodot matrices.

The large arrays of magnetic dots are the building blocks of magnonic crystals and the emerging bit patterned media for future recording technology. In order to fully utilize the functionalities of high density magnetic nanodots, a method for the selective reversal of a single nanodot in a matrix of dots is desired. We have proposed a method for magnetization reversal of a single nanodot with microwave excitation in a matrix of magneto-statically interacting dots. The method is based on the excitation of collective modes and the spatial anomaly in the microwave power absorption. We perform numerical simulations to demonstrate the possibility of switching a single dot from any initial state of a 3 by 3 matrix of dots, and develop a theoretical model for the phenomena. We discuss the applicability of the proposed method for introducing defect modes in magnonic crystals as well as for future magnetic recording.