Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MAWiCS (Magneto-Acoustic Waves in Complex Spin Systems)
Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2025-03-31
Spintronic devices perform information storage and processing based on the spin degree of freedom. Materials with complex magnetic order, such as ferrimagnets, antiferromagnets and chiral magnets are promising candidates for next-generation spintronic devices with ultrafast speed, enhanced robustness and unique functionalities. However, several fundamental obstacles prevent their efficient control with established approaches based on magnetic fields and electrical currents.
MAWiCS will overcome these obstacles by introducing the magneto-acoustic control of magnetization in these complex spin systems. The advantage of MAWiCS’ approach is based on the following hypotheses: Microwave frequency phonons can excite and control antiferromagnetic spin waves and magnetic skyrmions lattices with high efficiency. The uniaxial magnetic anisotropy induced by magneto-acoustic interactions can be used for full modulation of antiferromagnetic resonance frequencies. Magneto-acoustic waves can propagate in topologically protected skyrmion lattice edge-states with reduced magnetic damping.
MAWiCS will develop innovative experimental approaches to take advantage of symmetry, topology and exchange-enhancement effects for highly efficient control of spin dynamics in complex spin systems. Consequently, MAWiCS’ results will allow for the first time to:
1) Generate nanoscale spin waves from acoustic pulses in ferrimagnets and antiferromagnets.
2) Control skyrmions by acoustic lattices and realize nanoscale topological acoustics
3) Excite and detect antiferromagnetic spin waves by acoustic two-tone modulation
MAWiCS’ results will pave the way for the technological realization of magneto-acoustic spintronic devices, enable antiferromagnetic magnonics and realize topological magnon transport. Ultimately, MAWiCS will thus pioneer a new class of information technology concepts that do not only offer increased performance but also novel functionalities.
MAWiCS will overcome these obstacles by introducing the magneto-acoustic control of magnetization in these complex spin systems. The advantage of MAWiCS’ approach is based on the following hypotheses: Microwave frequency phonons can excite and control antiferromagnetic spin waves and magnetic skyrmions lattices with high efficiency. The uniaxial magnetic anisotropy induced by magneto-acoustic interactions can be used for full modulation of antiferromagnetic resonance frequencies. Magneto-acoustic waves can propagate in topologically protected skyrmion lattice edge-states with reduced magnetic damping.
MAWiCS will develop innovative experimental approaches to take advantage of symmetry, topology and exchange-enhancement effects for highly efficient control of spin dynamics in complex spin systems. Consequently, MAWiCS’ results will allow for the first time to:
1) Generate nanoscale spin waves from acoustic pulses in ferrimagnets and antiferromagnets.
2) Control skyrmions by acoustic lattices and realize nanoscale topological acoustics
3) Excite and detect antiferromagnetic spin waves by acoustic two-tone modulation
MAWiCS’ results will pave the way for the technological realization of magneto-acoustic spintronic devices, enable antiferromagnetic magnonics and realize topological magnon transport. Ultimately, MAWiCS will thus pioneer a new class of information technology concepts that do not only offer increased performance but also novel functionalities.
We experimentally study the interaction of magnetic excitations (magnons) and lattice vibrations (phonons) in magnetically ordered materials. To this end, we use microwave and optical spectroscopy methods. Our main achievements so far include the experimental demonstration of strong coupling of magnons and phonons in low-damping magnetic insulators and the sensing of antiferromagnetic phase transitions by surface acoustic waves.
Going beyond the state of the art in the active field of magneto-acoustics, we have developed methods to electrically launch and detect surface acoustic waves in ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic insulators and chiral magnets. This allows us to leverage the unique properties of magneto-acoustic interactions in these materials, such as strong magnon-phonon coupling.