Scattering of backward spin waves in a one-dimensional magnonic crystal

Scattering of backward volume magnetostatic spin waves from a one-dimensional magnonic crystal, realized by a grating of shallow grooves etched into the surface of an yttrium iron garnet film, was experimentally studied. Rejection frequency bands were clearly observed. The rejection efficiency and the frequency width of the rejection bands increase with increasing groove depth. A theoretical model based on the analogy of a spin-wave film waveguide with a microwave transmission line was used to interpret the obtained experimental results. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.