Flexoelectric phase shifter for spin waves

A controlled phase shifter for spin waves is an essential component of spin-wave logic devices. Theoretical calculations indicate that electrical control of the spin-wave phase can be realized in a simple ferromagnet that lacks long-ranged electric order by the interaction between an electric field and the spatial gradient of the magnetization-known as a flexoelectric interaction. Making use of a previous estimate of the strength of the flexoelectric coupling in ferromagnetic insulator Y3Fe5O12 (yttrium iron garnet) we find that a change in wave vector of the order of 1% can be achieved with an electric field of 10(6) V/m. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4703925]