Partial frequency band gap in one-dimensional magnonic crystals

Collective spin wave modes propagating in an array of magnetic stripes coupled by dynamic dipole interaction are investigated by Brillouin light scattering. It is demonstrated that this structure supports propagation of discrete spin waves at any angle with respect to the stripes length. The data are interpreted using a theoretical model based on the Bloch wave approach. It is shown that, due to the one-dimensional artificial periodicity of the medium, the gaps in the spin wave spectrum are partial: the frequency passbands for propagation along the direction of periodicity overlap with the stop bands for propagation along the stripes. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.