• Featured in Physics

Nonlocal Drag of Magnons in a Ferromagnetic Bilayer

Tianyu Liu, G. Vignale, and Michael E. Flatté
Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 237202 – Published 9 June 2016
Physics logo See Synopsis: Magnon Drag
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

Quantized spin waves, or magnons, in a magnetic insulator are assumed to interact weakly with the surroundings, and to flow with little dissipation or drag, producing exceptionally long diffusion lengths and relaxation times. In analogy to Coulomb drag in bilayer two-dimensional electron gases, in which the contribution of the Coulomb interaction to the electric resistivity is studied by measuring the interlayer resistivity (transresistivity), we predict a nonlocal drag of magnons in a ferromagnetic bilayer structure based on semiclassical Boltzmann equations. Nonlocal magnon drag depends on magnetic dipolar interactions between the layers and manifests in the magnon current transresistivity and the magnon thermal transresistivity, whereby a magnon current in one layer induces a chemical potential gradient and/or a temperature gradient in the other layer. The largest drag effect occurs when the magnon current flows parallel to the magnetization; however, for oblique magnon currents a large transverse current of magnons emerges. We examine the effect for practical parameters, and find that the predicted induced temperature gradient is readily observable.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 17 December 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.237202

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Synopsis

Key Image

Magnon Drag

Published 9 June 2016

Quantized spin waves known as magnons could experience a drag-like phenomenon in two spatially separated ferromagnetic layers.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Tianyu Liu1, G. Vignale2, and Michael E. Flatté1

  • 1Optical Science and Technology Center and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 116, Iss. 23 — 10 June 2016

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×