Spin-wave beam propagation in ferromagnetic thin films with graded refractive index: Mirage effect and prospective applications

Using analysis of isofrequency contours of the spin-wave dispersion relation, supported by micromagnetic simulations, we study the propagation of spin-wave (SW) beams in thin ferromagnetic films through the areas of the inhomogeneous refractive index. We compare the transmission and reflection of SWs in areas with gradual and step variation of the SW refractive index. In particular, we show the mirage effect for SWs with narrowing SW beam width and an application of the gradual modulation of the SWs refractive index as a diverging lens. Furthermore, we study the propagation of SWs in ferromagnetic stripe with modulated refractive index. We demonstrate that the system can be considered as the graded-index waveguide, which preserves the width of the SW beam for a long distance-the property essential for prospective applications of magnonics.