Tailoring magnon modes by extending square, kagome, and trigonal spin ice lattices vertically via interlayer coupling of trilayer nanomagnets

Abstract

In this work high-frequency magnetization dynamics and statics of artificial spin-ice lattices with different geometric nanostructure array configurations are studied where the individual nanostructures are composed of ferromagnetic/non-magnetic/ferromagnetic trilayers with different non-magnetic thicknesses. These thickness variations enable additional control over the magnetic interactions within the spin-ice lattice that directly impacts the resulting magnetization dynamics and the associated magnonic modes. Specifically the geometric arrangements studied are square, kagome and trigonal spin ice configurations, where the individual lithographically patterned nanomagnets (NMs) are trilayers, made up of two magnetic layers of Ni81Fe19 of 30 nm and 70 nm thickness respectively, separated by a non-magnetic copper layer of either 2 nm or 40 nm. We show that coupling via the magnetostatic interactions between the ferromagnetic layers of the NMs within square, kagome and trigonal spin-ice lattices offers fine-control over magnetization states and magnetic resonant modes. In particular, the kagome and trigonal lattices allow tuning of an additional mode and the spacing between multiple resonance modes, increasing functionality beyond square lattices. These results demonstrate the ability to move beyond quasi-2D single magnetic layer nanomagnetics via control of the vertical interlayer interactions in spin ice arrays. This additional control enables multi-mode magnonic programmability of the resonance spectra, which has potential for magnetic metamaterials for microwave or information processing applications.