Magnon valve effect and resonant transmission in a one-dimensional magnonic crystal

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the transmission of exchange-dominated spin waves in a one-dimensional magnonic crystal (MC) with a periodic exchange bias field. By recasting the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation into an effective Schr\"odinger equation and establishing spin-wave functions, it is found that MCs with upward (up) and downward (down) magnetization, respectively, correspond to the rectangular $N$-fold barriers and wells for magnons. The broadband transmission spectra in up and down states are systematically investigated. We show the phenomena of the magnon resonant transmission in both states and calculate the resonant transmission wave functions, which are related to the magnon density. Our results also show a transmission spectra shift effect (TSSE) between up and down states, which is found to be general in this system. Furthermore, the TSSE is useful to design a type of magnon valve, the magnonic-crystal-based magnon valve (MCMV), which has a large on/off ratio and bandwidth. By high-throughput screening, 125 000 groups of parameters of the MC are calculated, and 1948 parameter groups of high-performance MCMVs are screened out. Our work clarifies the physical details of the exchange-dominated spin-wave transmission in rectangular $N$-fold barriers and wells and also provides a promising route for designing novel magnonic devices.