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Driving magnetic nano-quakes

Collective excitations of magnetic order such as spin waves (their corresponding quanta are called magnons) are promising alternatives to charge carriers for efficient on-chip transport and information processing. The frequencies and wave vectors of spin waves are similar to those of SAWs, allowing the coupling between phonons and magnons to be exploited for the excitation, detection, and manipulation of spin waves. The work could lead to the realization of sound-driven magnonic memories and logic gates, as well as magnetically controlled SAW isolators and circulators for the efficient acoustic interfacing between localized qubits in quantum networks.

Current focus points

  • Magnetoacoustic waves: We study the SAW-driven magnetization dynamics in epitaxial ferromagnetic/semiconductor hybrid nanostructures (see CReA Nanofabrication) and its feedback on the SAW propagation properties.
  • Non-reciprocal acoustics: The well-defined chirality of both SAWs and spin waves can be exploited to realize non-reciprocal magnetoacoustic systems with potential applications as phononic diodes.

Selected publications

Author: M. Rovirola, M. W. Khaliq, B. Casals, M. Foerster, M. A. Niño, L. Aballe, J. Herfort, J. M. Hernàndez, F. Macià, A. Hernández-Mínguez
Title: Resonant and off-resonant magnetoacoustic waves in epitaxial Fe3Si/GaAs hybrid structures
Source: Phys. Rev. Appl. (in press, 2023)

Author: Hernández-Mínguez, F. Macià, J. M. Hernandez, J. Herfort, P. V. Santos
Title: Large non-reciprocal propagation of surface acoustic waves in epitaxial ferromagnetic/semicondutor hybrid structures
Source: Phys. Rev. Appl. 13, 044018 (2020)

Author: Casals, N. Statuto, M. Foerster, A. Hernández-Mínguez, R. Cichelero, P. Manshausen, A. Mandziak, L. Aballe, J.M. Hernàndez, F. Macià
Title: Generation and Imaging of Magnetoacoustic Waves over Millimeter Distances
Source: Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 137202 (2020)

Author: M. Foerster, F. Macià, N. Statuto, S. Finizio, A. Hernández-Mínguez, S. Lendínez, P. V. Santos, J. Fontcuberta, J. M. Hernàndez, M. Kläui, L. Aballe
Title: Direct imaging of delayed magneto dynamic modes induced by strain waves
Source: Nat. Comm. 8, 407 (2017)

Author: J. Tejada, E. M. Chudnovsky, R. Zarzuela, N. Statuto, J. Calvo-de la Rosa, P. V. Santos and A. Hernández-Mínguez
Title: Switching of magnetic moments of nanoparticles by surface acoustic waves
Source: Europhys. Lett. 118, 37005 (2017)

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