Nutation spin waves in ferromagnets

Abstract

Magnetization dynamics and spin waves in ferromagnets are investigated using the inertial Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation. Taking inertial magnetization dynamics into account, dispersion relations describing the propagation of nutation spin waves in an arbitrary direction relative to the applied magnetic field are derived via Maxwell's equations. It is found that the inertia of magnetization causes the hybridization of electromagnetic waves and nutation spin waves in ferromagnets, hybrid nutation spin waves emerge, and the redshift of frequencies of precession spin waves is initiated, which transforms to precession-nutation spin waves. These effects depend sharply on the direction of wave propagation relative to the applied magnetic field. Moreover, the waves propagating parallel to the applied field are circularly polarized, while the waves propagating perpendicular to that field are elliptically polarized. The characteristics of these spin nutation waves are also analyzed.