Lifetime and mean free path of spin waves in ultrathin cobalt films

E. Michel, H. Ibach, C. M. Schneider, D. L. R. Santos, and A. T. Costa
Phys. Rev. B 94, 014420 – Published 18 July 2016

Abstract

Miniaturization of magnon-based devices into the nanometer range would require the utilization of exchange-dominated spin waves of nanometer wavelength. In experiment and theory we show that the intrinsic lifetime and mean free path of the homogeneous acoustic spin wave in ultrathin cobalt films is sufficiently long for such applications provided that the films are atomically flat. The presence of surface steps, however, shortens lifetime and mean free path. The experimental data are consistent with a model which assumes that steps act as perfect sinks for spin waves.

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  • Received 6 November 2015
  • Revised 30 May 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.94.014420

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

E. Michel1,2, H. Ibach2,3,*, C. M. Schneider1,2, D. L. R. Santos4,†, and A. T. Costa5

  • 1Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
  • 2Jülich Aachen Research Alliance, Germany
  • 3Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
  • 4Laboratoire Louis Néel, CNRS, Boite Postale 166, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 09, France
  • 5Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, 24210-346 Niterói, R. J., Brazil

  • *h.ibach@fz-juelich.de
  • On sabbatical leave from Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica, Itagaí 23812-101, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Issue

Vol. 94, Iss. 1 — 1 July 2016

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