Spin-wave nonreciprocity and formation of lateral standing spin waves in CoFeB/Ta/NiFe meander-shaped films

Studying the spin-wave (SW) propagation in 3D periodic structures opens new possibilities for joining functional units placed on the different layers of the magnonic circuitry. In the path toward 3D magnonics, the main challenge is the fabrication of large-scale 3D magnetic structures with nanometric precision control of geometry and material composition. In this work, we study the dependence on the Ta spacer thickness of the magnonic band structure, measured by Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy, of CoFeB/Ta/NiFe meander-shaped bilayers fabricated on pre-patterned Si substrate with thickness steps of 50 nm. Both propagating and stationary SW modes are observed. While the frequency of the dispersive mode slightly depends on the Ta spacer thickness, the frequency position of the three stationary modes in the lowest frequency range of the spectra significantly increases by increasing the Ta thickness. Micromagnetic calculations indicate that each of the three stationary modes is composed of a doublet of modes whose frequency separation, within each doublet, increases by increasing the mode frequency. The origin of this frequency separation is ascribed to the dynamic dipolar coupling between the magnetic layers that generate a significant frequency nonreciprocity of counterpropagating SWs. For these reasons, the investigated structures offer potential application as the nonreciprocal versatile interconnections performing the frequency selective regimes of signal propagation in magnonic circuits. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

Studying the propagation of spin waves in 3D periodic structures has opened up new possibilities for connecting functional units in the magnonic circuitry. In this work, the researchers investigated the dependence of the magnonic band structure on the Ta spacer thickness in CoFeB/Ta/NiFe meander-shaped bilayers. Both propagating and stationary spin wave modes were observed. The frequency of the dispersive mode was found to slightly depend on the Ta spacer thickness, while the frequency position of the three stationary modes significantly increased with increasing Ta thickness. Micromagnetic calculations revealed that the stationary modes consisted of doublets with increasing frequency separation.