Abstract
Spin waves constitute an important part of research in the field of magnetization dynamics. Spin waves are the elementary excitations of the spin system in a magnetically ordered material state and magnons are their quasi particles. In the following article, we will discuss the optical method of Brillouin light scattering (BLS) spectroscopy which is a now a well established tool for the characterization of spin waves. BLS is the inelastic scattering of light from spin waves and confers several benefits: the ability to map the spin wave intensity distribution with spatial resolution and high sensitivity as well as the potential to simultaneously measure the frequency and the wave vector and, therefore, the dispersion properties. For several decades, the field of spin waves gained huge interest by the scientific community due to its relevance regarding fundamental issues of spindynamics in the field of solid states physics. The ongoing research in recent years has put emphasis on the high potential of spin waves regarding information technology. In the emerging field of \textit{magnonics}, several concepts for a spin-wave based logic have been proposed and realized. Opposed to charge-based schemes in conventional electronics and spintronics, magnons are charge-free currents of angular momentum, and, therefore, less subject to scattering processes that lead to heating and dissipation. This fact is highlighted by the possibility to utilize spin waves as information carriers in electrically insulating materials. These developments have propelled the quest for ways and mechanisms to guide and manipulate spin-wave transport. In particular, a lot of effort is put into the miniaturization of spin-wave waveguides and the excitation of spin waves in structures with sub-micrometer dimensions. For the further development of potential spin-wave-based devices, the ability to directly observe spin-wave propagation with spatial resolution is crucial. As an optical technique BLS do
Highlights
This article is devoted to the imaging of spin waves at the nanoscale via Brillouin light scattering (BLS) spectroscopy with emphasis on the development of a BLS microscope
With respect to techniques that require large-scale facilities like electron or neutron scattering with superior space resolution, BLS spectroscopy and even microscopy can be set up and used in a typical laboratory environment
Before we discuss the experimental technique of BLS, we give a brief introduction into the physics of spin waves, the subject of our research
Summary
This article is devoted to the imaging of spin waves at the nanoscale via Brillouin light scattering (BLS) spectroscopy with emphasis on the development of a BLS microscope. The frequency analysis of the investigated spinwave modes requires post-processing in the case of timeresolved measurement techniques which hinders the reliable characterization of weak spin-wave signals It is worth mentioning again, that BLS offers a direct detection of the spin-wave frequency and a superior sensitivity for the detection of weak signals based on the counting of single photons. With respect to techniques that require large-scale facilities like electron or neutron scattering with superior space resolution, BLS spectroscopy and even microscopy can be set up and used in a typical laboratory environment This ensures maximum versatility regarding the combination with external devices for the control of experimental parameters or regarding the demands in sample preparation.
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