Microwave magnetoelectric effects in single crystal bilayers of yttrium iron garnet and lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate

The first observation of microwave magnetoelectric (ME) interactions through ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) in bilayers of single crystal ferromagnetic-piezoelectric oxides and a theoretical model for the effect are presented. An electric field E produces a mechanical deformation in the piezoelectric phase, resulting in a shift deltaH(E) in the resonance field for the ferromagnet. The strength of ME coupling is obtained from data on deltaH(E) vs E. Studies were performed at 9.3 GHz on bilayers of (111) yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films and (001) lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT). The samples were positioned outside a TE102-reflection type cavity. Resonance profiles were obtained for E=0-8 kV/cm for both in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic fields H. Important results are as follows. (i) The ME coupling in the bilayers is an order of magnitude stronger than in polycrystalline composites and is in the range 1-5.4 Oe cm/kOe, depending on the YIG film thickness. (ii) The coupling strength is dependent on the magnetic field orientation and is higher for out-of-plane H than for in-plane H. (iii) Estimated ME constant and its dependence on volume ratio for the two phases are in good agreement with the data.