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Imaging Spin‐Wave Damping Underneath Metals Using Electron Spins in Diamond

Advanced Quantum Technologies, vol. 4

Abstract

Abstract Spin waves in magnetic insulators are low‐damping signal carriers that can enable a new generation of spintronic devices. The excitation, control, and detection of spin waves by metal electrodes is crucial for interfacing these devices to electrical circuits. As such, it is important to understand metal‐induced damping of spin‐wave transport, but characterizing this process requires access to the underlying magnetic films. Here it is shown that electronic sensor spins in diamond enable imaging of spin waves that propagate underneath metals in magnetic insulators. This capability is then used to reveal a 100‐fold metal‐induced increase in spin‐wave damping. The damping enhancement is attributed to spin‐wave‐induced electrical currents as well as, above a certain frequency, three‐magnon scattering processes. This interpretation is supported by deriving expressions for the current‐induced damping and the three‐magnon threshold from the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation that agree well with the observations. The detection of buried scattering centers further highlights the technique's power for assessing spintronic device quality. These results open new avenues for studying metal – spin‐wave interactions and provide access to interfacial processes such as spin‐wave injection via the spin‐Hall effect.

Authors 7

  1. Leiden University · Delft University of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Quantum Nanoscience Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft University of Technology Lorentzweg 1 Delft 2628 CJ The Netherlands

    Huygens – Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratorium Leiden University Niels Bohrweg 2 Leiden 2300 RA The Netherlands

    Department of Quantum Nanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, Delft, 2628 CJ The Netherlands

  2. Delft University of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Quantum Nanoscience Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft University of Technology Lorentzweg 1 Delft 2628 CJ The Netherlands

    Department of Quantum Nanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, Delft, 2628 CJ The Netherlands

  3. Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter · Huazhong University of Science and Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter Luruper Chausee 149 Hamburg 22761 Germany

    School of Physics Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan 430074 China

    Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chausee 149, Hamburg, 22761 Germany

    School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 China

  4. J. Aarts Aachen

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Huygens – Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratorium Leiden University Niels Bohrweg 2 Leiden 2300 RA The Netherlands

  5. Tohoku University · Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University · Delft University of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Quantum Nanoscience Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft University of Technology Lorentzweg 1 Delft 2628 CJ The Netherlands

    WPI‐AIMR & Institute for Materials Research & CSRN Tohoku University Sendai 980–8577 Japan

    Department of Quantum Nanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, Delft, 2628 CJ The Netherlands

  6. Tohoku University · Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University · Delft University of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Quantum Nanoscience Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft University of Technology Lorentzweg 1 Delft 2628 CJ The Netherlands

    WPI‐AIMR & Institute for Materials Research & CSRN Tohoku University Sendai 980–8577 Japan

    Department of Quantum Nanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, Delft, 2628 CJ The Netherlands

  7. Toeno van der Sar corresponding

    Delft University of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Quantum Nanoscience Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft University of Technology Lorentzweg 1 Delft 2628 CJ The Netherlands

    Department of Quantum Nanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, Delft, 2628 CJ The Netherlands

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References 41