Yttrium Iron Garnet Films Research Articles

Coupling-induced transparency and absorption in a magnon–multiphoton hybrid system

Coupling-induced transparency (CIT) and absorption (CIA) of transmission signals were experimentally observed in a single planar hybrid structure specially designed to consist of a yttrium iron garnet film and three concentric inverted-split-ring resonators (ISRRs). The observation of both CIT and CIA was ascribed to the cooperative effect of the interaction of magnons with three decoupled ISRRs' photon modes and the traveling waves along the microstripline. An analytical model developed based on the balance between the coherent and dissipative multiple-paths interactions precisely reproduced both CIT and CIA experimentally observed from a single hybrid system. This work, promisingly, can provide guidance for the design of efficient, flexible, and well-controllable magnon–photon hybrid devices that are highly in demand for applications to quantum technologies currently under development.

Antisite Defects and Chemical Expansion in Low‐damping, High‐magnetization Yttrium Iron Garnet Films

AbstractYttrium iron garnet is widely investigated for its suitability in applications ranging from magneto‐optical and microwave devices to magnonics. However, in the few‐nanometer thickness range, epitaxial films exhibit a strong variability in magnetic behavior that hinders their implementation in technological devices. Here, direct visualization and spectroscopy of the atomic structure of a nominally stoichiometric thin film, exhibiting a small damping factor of 3.0 ⋅ 10−4, reveals the occurrence of Y‐excess octahedral antisite defects. The two‐magnon strength is very small, Γ0≈10−6 Oe, indicating a very low occurrence of scattering centers. Notably, the saturation magnetization, 4πMs=2.10 (±0.01) kOe, is higher than the bulk value, in consistency with the suppression of magnetic moment in the minority octahedral sublattice by the observed antisite defects. Analysis of elemental concentration profiles across the substrate‐film interface suggests that the Y‐excess is originated from unbalanced cationic interdiffusion during the early growth stages.

Lock-in thermographic study of spin-wave propagation in magnonic crystals

We have investigated the spin-wave dynamics in a one-dimensional magnonic crystal (MC) with respect to the heat radiation due to the damping of the spin waves. The spin waves were excited by applying microwaves via a wire antenna. The heat induced by the excitation and propagation of spin waves was measured using the lock-in thermography (LIT) technique by periodically modulating the microwave power. The LIT measurements resolved the heat source distributions inside the MC, which is made of an yttrium iron garnet film and periodic grooves with a sub-mm interval, in the backward volume wave geometry. The temperature distribution induced by the spin-wave excitation notably depends on the frequency or wave number of the spin waves, as a result of the formation of rejection bands in the MC. The observed temperature modulation profiles are complicated, but their behavior is consistent with a calculation based on the microwave transmission line approximation of the MCs, demonstrating the applicability of the LIT measurements to the investigation of the spin-wave dynamics in sub-mm scale MCs.

Structural distortion induced enhancement of magnetic and dielectric properties in Pr modified yttrium iron garnet films

Low saturation magnetization and low dielectric constant significantly limited the application of Yttrium iron garnet (Y3Fe5O12, YIG) film, which could be enhanced through structural distortion. In this work, Y3-xPrxFe5O12 (YPrxIG) films were fabricated using chemical solution deposition method. The substitution of Pr3+ for Y3+ was adopted to regulate the symmetry of its polyhedron to induce a structural distortion owing to a larger ion radius of Pr3+ than that of Y3+. YPr0.20IG film exhibited a higher saturation magnetization of 241.2 emu/cm3 than the pure YIG film owing to the enhanced super-exchange from the increased FeO–O-FeT bond angle. The dielectric constant of YPr0.20IG film increased to 22.4 at 12.4 GHz, which was the contribution of electron polarization and ion polarization of Fe2+. The band gap value of YPr0.20IG film was reduced to 2.80 eV. These could be physically clarified that the electrons between Fe2+ and Fe3+ turned to migrate from the valence band to the conduction band.

Concept of the Optomagnonic Logic Operation

We present the concept of the optomagnonic logic gate, where interference of spin waves excited by femtosecond laser pulses at multiple points by the inverse Faraday effect in a bismuth-substituted yttrium iron garnet film plays a decisive role. The resulting spin-wave distribution is determined by constructive and destructive interference, which is controlled by the polarization of laser sources. A variable platform with a spatial light modulator is used to control the overall spin-wave distribution by manipulating the arrangement of the local spin-wave sources. We demonstrate the experimental optical excitation of backwards volume magnetostatic spin waves at multiple points and use wavelet analysis and micromagnetic numeric simulations to analyze them. Simulations provide an excellent agreement with the experimental data and are further used to model the magnon logical gate (xnor) based on optically excited spin-wave interference.

Confinement of Bose–Einstein magnon condensates in adjustable complex magnetization landscapes

Coherent wave states such as Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs), which spontaneously form in an overpopulated magnon gas even at room temperature, have considerable potential for wave-based computing and information processing at microwave frequencies. The ability to control the transport properties of magnon BECs plays an essential role in their practical use. Here, we demonstrate the spatiotemporal control of the BEC density distribution through the excitation of magnon supercurrents in an inhomogeneously magnetized yttrium iron garnet film. The BEC is created by microwave parametric pumping and probed by Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy. The desired magnetization profile is prepared by heating the film with optical patterns projected onto its surface using a phase-based wavefront modulation technique. Specifically, we observe a pronounced spatially localized magnon accumulation caused by magnon supercurrents flowing toward each other originating in two heated regions. This accumulation effect increases the BEC lifetime due to the constant influx of condensed magnons into the confinement region. The shown approach to manipulate coherent waves provides an opportunity to extend the lifetime of freely evolving magnon BECs, create dynamic magnon textures, and study the interaction of magnon condensates formed in different regions of the sample.

Low‐Damping Spin‐Wave Transmission in YIG/Pt‐Interfaced Structures

AbstractMagnetic heterostructures consisting of single‐crystal yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films coated with platinum are widely used in spin‐wave experiments related to spintronic phenomena such as the spin‐transfer‐torque, spin‐Hall, and spin‐Seebeck effects. However, spin waves in YIG/Pt bilayers experience much stronger attenuation than in bare YIG films. For micrometer‐thick YIG films, this effect is caused by microwave eddy currents in the Pt layer. This paper reports that by employing an excitation configuration in which the YIG film faces the metal plate of the microstrip antenna structure, the eddy currents in Pt are shunted and the transmission of the Damon–Eschbach surface spin wave is greatly improved. The reduction in spin‐wave attenuation persists even when the Pt coating is separated from the ground plate by a thin dielectric layer. This makes the proposed excitation configuration suitable for injection of an electric current into the Pt layer and thus for application in spintronics devices. The theoretical analysis carried out within the framework of the electrodynamic approach reveals how the platinum nanolayer and the nearby highly conductive metal plate affect the group velocity and the lifetime of the Damon–Eshbach surface wave and how these two wavelength‐dependent quantities determine the transmission characteristics of the spin‐wave device.

The Effect of Ne+ Ion Implantation on the Crystal, Magnetic, and Domain Structures of Yttrium Iron Garnet Films

The mechanism of the influence of crystal inhomogeneities on the magnetic and domain microstructures of functional materials based on yttrium iron garnet heterostructures is an important subject of investigation due to the aim to predict parameters for manufacturingpurposes. A study of the structural and magnetic characteristics of a set of yttrium iron garnet films grown on gadolinium–gallium garnet substrate is presented. High-resolution X-ray diffractometry, Mössbauer spectroscopy, MFM, as well as ion implantation simulation and X-ray diffraction simulation were used together to determine the features of the effect of Ne+ ion implantation with different dose rates on the samples. The simulation of ion implantation with E = 82 keV showed energy loss profiles of Ne ions with subsequent defect formation up to amorphization of near-surface layers at high doses. Implantation creates two magnetically non-equivalent types of tetrahedrally located Fe3+ ions, which leads to a rotation of the total magnetic moment relative to the film surface and a change in the width of the magnetic domain stripes.

Crystallization and stability of rare earth iron garnet/Pt/gadolinium gallium garnet heterostructures on Si

The crystallization of rare earth iron garnet films such as dysprosium iron garnet on Si substrates provides a path for integration of these complex oxides into magnetic devices. We report the growth of 50–75 nm thick dysprosium yttrium iron garnet (YDyIG) films, deposited without a seed layer then crystallized by a 750 °C rapid thermal anneal, forming a polycrystalline film with grains of several µm diameter containing radiating low-angle boundaries. The Y:Dy ratio affects the magnetization and anisotropy of YDyIG. Crystallization becomes more challenging as the garnet film thickness decreases. To crystallize thinner rare earth garnet films, tri-layer stacks consisting of a 50 nm thick gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) seed layer, a 1.5 nm thick Pt diffusion barrier, and a 10 nm thick YDyIG film were prepared. The YDyIG/Pt/GGG tri-layers showed agglomeration of the Pt leading to a morphology consisting of a polycrystalline garnet film enriched with Dy and Fe and containing a layer of Pt nanoparticles embedded near its surface.

Laser-Induced Magnetization Dynamics in Si-Doped Yttrium-Iron Garnet Film

We experimentally demonstrate that the excitation of a silicon-doped yttrium-iron garnet film by femtosecond laser pulses triggers a magnetization precession with an amplitude determined by the external magnetization direction. The maximum efficiency is achieved at the pump wavelength corresponding to the absorption maximum due to doping with silicon ions. Based on the azimuthal dependences of the precession amplitude and frequency, it is shown that the magnetization dynamics is induced by a thermal disruption of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. By modeling hysteresis loops, it was found that the silicon doping leads to a decrease in the value of the exchange interaction in the film and an increase in the anisotropy field.

Spin-wave diagnostics of epitaxial ferrite-dielectric structures

Purpose of this study is to elucidate the mechanism of transformation of electromagnetic and exchange spin waves (ESW) in a thin transition layer of epitaxial ferrite–dielectric structures, as well as to investigate the possibilities of using short-wave ESW to diagnose magnetic inhomogeneities of epitaxial yttrium-iron garnet (YIG) films. Methods. In this paper, we study the hybridization processes of electromagnetic and exchange spin waves that occur in the transition layer of the YIG film. The features of the dispersion of coupled waves in the vicinity of phase synchronism frequencies under normal and tangential magnetization of the YIG film are investigated. Results. It is shown that within of the thickness transition layer, the dispersion of the excited ESW experiences significant distortions, which manifests itself in frequency shifts of the spin-wave resonance. Based on this, a method for calculating the distribution of spontaneous magnetization over the thickness of the YIG film was proposed, which was used to simulate the processes of excitation of spin-wave resonances. Conclusion. The proposed technique of spin-wave diagnostics of YIG films can be effectively used for non-destructive testing of all types of epitaxial ferrite-dielectric structures, which may be in demand in the field of production and in the field of their practical application.

Influence of three-magnon decays on electromotive force generation by magnetostatic surface waves in integral YIG – Pt structures

The purpose of this work is to find out the influence of three-magnon decay processes on the electromotive force (EMF (U)) generated by propagating magnetostatic surface waves (MSSW) with the help of the inverse spin Hall effect in the “yttrium-iron garnet (YIG) – platinum (Pt)” structure. Methods. The experiments were carried out using the delay line structures based on YIG films with the thickness of 8.8 and 14.6 µm, on the surface of which antennas were formed for MSSWs excitation and reception and a Pt film between antennas. Results. It was shown that the three-magnon parametric instability can significantly change the character of EMF dependences on frequency and on power of MSSW that resulted both from the effect of power limitation and from the participation of parametric spin waves (PSW) and secondary spin waves (SSW) in the processes of electron-magnon scattering on the YIG/Pt border. Conclusion. It was demonstrated that the effect of amplification of EMF generation at the frequencies that are close to the long-wavelength border of the MSSW spectrum is related with the PSW and SSW population of the region of anisotropic dipole-exchange spin waves spectrum, which is characterized by the presence of singularities in the magnon density of states (Van Hove singularities).

Tunable spin-wave delay line based on ferrite and vanadium dioxide

One of the key elements for modern microwave circuits is a delay line, which is widely utilized for the signal generation as well as processing. Spin-wave delay lines based on ferrite films provide a high delay time and small dimensions. Typically, the performance characteristics of such lines are tuned by the variation of an externally applied magnetic field characterized by some drawbacks. The phenomenon of a metal–insulator transition (MIT) in the phase change materials permits to improve the performance characteristics of the spin-wave delay lines. In particular, this concept allows to reduce the power consumption and improve the control speed of a delay time. Aim. Development of a tunable spin-wave delay line based on ferrite and vanadium dioxide films, as well as the study of its performance characteristics. Methods. Experimental investigations were carried out for the delay line composed of the yttrium iron garnet (YIG) and vanadium dioxide (VO2) films. The ferrite waveguide was fabricated from a single-crystal YIG film grown on a gallium gadolinium garnet substrate. A vanadium dioxide film was formed on a silicon dioxide substrate by DC reactive magnetron sputtering. The microwave measurements were carried out using the vector network analyzer R&S®R ZVA40. Results. It was shown that heating of the VO2 film induces a sufficient drop of its resistance that causes the transformation of the spin-wave dispersion characteristic. This leads to the decrease in the group velocity of the propagating waves providing a growth of a delay time. Namely, experimental structure of 5-mm length offers a tunable time delay range from 130 up to 150 ns at the operating frequency of 4.33 GHz. Conclusion. A proof-of-principle for the MIT control of the delay time composed on the YIG-VO2 structure has been presented. It was shown that a switch of VO2 film from the isolating into conducting state produces a 15% change in the delay time. The considered microwave delay lines look favorable for applications as a complimentary part to the traditional approach for general computing and microwave signal processing.

Excitation by shot circuited coaxial transducer of magnetostatic modes in rectangular yttrium iron garnet film

The purpose of this work is the study of design of new short-circuited coaxial transducer with thin linear jumper, that circuites on both sides of the grounded coaxial cylinder, located above the rectangular iron-yttrium garnet (YIG) film, in homogeneous constant magnetic field with rectangular film along its length or width. The thin linear jumper is directed parallel to the width of the YIG film. Methods. In the CST Microwave Studio environment, an electrodynamic analysis of the model was carried out using the finite element method. To study the efficiency of modes excitation in a ferrite film at different distances between the coaxial transducer and the surface of the YIG film, the frequency dependencies of the inverse losses S11 of the model were calculated. Results. 1. The identification of modes in a homogeneous static magnetic field H, directed parallel to the plane of a rectangular YIG film along its width (y-axis) was carried out. 2. The identification of modes in a homogeneous static magnetic field H directed parallel to the plane of the rectangular YIG film along its length (z-axis) was carried out. 3. A comparison of modes spectra was made at H, directed parallel to the plane of the YIG film along its width (y axis) and length (z axis). Conclusion. In this paper short-circuited transducer with a thin linear jumper, circuited on both sides of the grounded coaxial cylinder, is investigated. By the electrodynamic method distributions of high-frequency magnetic field of the excited magnetostatic modes were calculated and their identification was carried out for two directions of homogeneous static magnetic field: along width and along length of rectangular YIG film. The dependence of number of excited modes on the distance between a short-circuited transducer and rectangular YIG was also studied. A comparison of modes spectra is carried out at H, directed parallel to the plane of the YIG film along its width and length. With this rotation of H vector, the band of effectively excitable modes shifts from 4.6...4.9 GHz to 4.5...4.75 GHz. However, the excitation of these modes in the case of the vector H, directed along the width of YIG film (z-axis), is much more effective in the band 4.65...4.9 GHz than in the case when this vector is directed along the length of YIG film (z-axis). At the same time, excitation of these modes in the case of the vector H, directed along the length of YIG film (z axis) is much more effective in the band 4.4...4.6 GHz.

Experimental methods for the study of spin waves

Purpose of this paper is to give an overview of various experimental methods for investigation of spin waves characteristics. Methods. The paper presents a description of a number of experimental techniques, such as the probing method, the phase shift method, the method of measure of equiphase dependences, the method of intersecting wave beams, and the use of Fourier analysis of the complex transfer coefficient of spin waves to determine their spatial spectrum. The conditions for using the listed methods and the characteristics of spin waves that one can measure by means of these methods are discussed in detail. Results. The paper presents a number of fundamental results that have been obtained on the basis of described methods. For example, the probing method was successfully used to visualize the amplitude and phase distribution of spin waves in the ferrite film plane and, in particular, it was used to experimentally confirm the previously predicted appearance of super-directed propagation of surface and backward volume spin wave beams. The phase-shift measurement method made it possible to measure the dispersion dependence of spin waves in ferrite structures such as ferrite – metal and ferrite – dielectric – metal, where measurements cannot be made by the probing method. The method of measuring equiphase dependences of spin waves made it possible, in particular, to measure for the first time with great accuracy the value of an external magnetic field magnetizing an yttrium iron garnet film to saturation in various crystallographic directions. The method of intersecting wave beams has made it possible to clarify the mechanism of parametric instability of surface spin waves. Fourier analysis of the complex transfer coefficient of spin waves allowed to determine the spatial spectrum of these waves; in particular, dispersion dependences of higher modes of the backward volume spin wave were first measured using this method. Conclusion. The methods described in this paper may continue to be successfully used for investigations of spin waves characteristics in various magnon crystals, ferrite structures and meta-structures.

Giant quadratic magneto-optical response of thin Y3Fe5O12 films for sensitive magnetometry experiments

We report on observation of a magneto-optical effect quadratic in magnetization (Cotton-Mouton effect) in 50 nm thick layer of Yttrium-Iron Garnet (YIG). By a combined theoretical and experimental approach, we managed to quantify both linear and quadratic magneto-optical effects. We show that the quadratic magneto-optical signal in the thin YIG film can exceed the linear magneto-optical response, reaching values of 450 urad that are comparable with Heusler alloys or ferromagnetic semiconductors. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a proper choice of experimental conditions, particularly with respect to the wavelength, is crucial for optimization of the quadratic magneto-optical effect for magnetometry measurement.

Thickness-dependent magnetooptical properties of ion beam sputtered polycrystalline Ce1Y2Fe5O12 films

Polycrystalline cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Ce:YIG, Ce1Y2Fe5O12) films were deposited on synthetic fused silica substrates with various thicknesses using ion beam sputtering, and their roughness, transmissivity, optical constants, microstructure, and their magnetic and magnetooptical properties were measured. Thicker films exhibit cracking due to thermal mismatch stress. A ∼5 nm thick amorphous layer was observed at the interface between Ce:YIG and the substrates, resulting in a non-monotonic thickness dependence of the measured properties. A 338 nm thick Ce:YIG film showed the largest magnetooptical figure of merit defined as the ratio of Faraday rotation angle to absorption coefficient, 127°/dB at a wavelength of 1550 nm, more than three times larger than prior work.

Giant magnon spin conductivity in ultrathin yttrium iron garnet films.

Conductivities are key material parameters that govern various types of transport (electronic charge, spin, heat and so on) driven by thermodynamic forces. Magnons, the elementary excitations of the magnetic order, flow under the gradient of a magnon chemical potential1-3 in proportion to a magnon (spin) conductivity. The magnetic insulator yttrium iron garnet is the material of choice for efficient magnon spin transport. Here we report a giant magnon conductivity in thin yttrium iron garnet films with thicknesses down to 3.7 nm when the number of occupied two-dimensional subbands is reduced from a large number to a few, which corresponds to a transition from three-dimensional to two-dimensional magnon transport. We extract a two-dimensional magnon spin conductivity around 1 S at room temperature, comparable to the (electronic) conductivity of the high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas in GaAs quantum wells at millikelvin temperatures4. Such high conductivities offer opportunities to develop low-dissipation magnon-based spintronic devices.

Magneto-optical property of Ce-substituted YIG films fabricated by metal–organic deposition method

The metal–organic deposition method (MOD) fabricated cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Ce:YIG, CexY3-xFe5O12) films with chemical composition Ce : Y : Fe=1.0:2.0:5.0. We determined the components of the dielectric tensor by measuring the transmittance and reflectance of circularly polarized light. These values are smaller than those obtained by other fabrication methods. Measurements of the cross-section of the samples using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the layered structures in the backscattered electron (BSE) image, which resulted from the traces of the spin-coating process of the MOD liquid. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) measurements revealed a chemical composition of x=0.7. Thus, we consider the small values of the components as the defects in the Ce:YIG crystals and low substitution ratio.

Giant sensitivity to magnetic field variation in the spin wave interferometer based on the system of exchange-coupled films of yttrium iron garnet

In this work, we present experimental data on the interference of backward volume magnetostatic wave (BVMSW) counter-propagating in the structure with two exchange-coupled yttrium iron garnet layers. The layers are engineered to have different saturation magnetization that gives a possibility to BVMSW resonantly interacting with exchange modes of the two-layer structure. The BVMSW is excited by two antennas placed on top of the structure, while the third one placed between them is used for the detection of inductive voltage V generated by waves superposition. It is shown that maximal changes of the output inductive signal δV with the variation of magnetic field δH occur if, first, the waves interfere destructively and, second, the frequency corresponds to the resonant interaction of BVMSW with the exchange waves. In this case, obtained data reveal large sensitivity S = δV/δH approaching S ≈ 267 dB/Oe in the vicinity ±0.1 Oe of the resonant field H. The observed high sensitivity is of great importance for the development of compact sensitive magnetometers operating at room temperature.