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arXiv · 2409.17722

Three-dimensional nanoscale control of magnetism in crystalline Yttrium Iron Garnet

Valerio Levati·Matteo Vitali·Andrea Del Giacco·Nicola Pellizzi·Raffaele Silvani·Luca Ciaccarini Mavilla·Marco Madami·Irene Biancardi·Davide Girardi·Matteo Panzeri·Piero Florio·Maria Cocconcelli·David Breitbach·Philipp Pirro·Ludovica Rovatti·Nora Lecis·Federico Maspero·Riccardo Bertacco·Giacomo Corrielli·Roberto Osellame·Valeria Russo·Andrea Li Bassi·Silvia Tacchi·Daniela Petti·Edoardo Albisetti
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Abstract

The exceptional magnetic, optical and phononic properties of Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) make it unique for spin-wave based and photonic applications. Yet, nanostructuring crystalline YIG and manipulating its magnetism in a non-destructive way is an outstanding challenge, and so far mostly limited to two-dimensional capabilities. Here, we show that irradiation of single-crystal YIG films with a focused UV laser drives a stable, giant enhancement of the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, preserving the crystalline quality. This modulation is highly confined at the nanoscale in both the lateral and vertical directions, and its extension within the volume can be finely tuned with a continuous depth-control. By harnessing these three-dimensional anisotropy profiles, we demonstrate a large tuning of the spin-wave band structure, volume spatial localization, and non-reciprocity, realizing proof-of-principle 3D magnonic crystals. This straightforward, single-step, laser nanofabrication of three-dimensional magnetic systems based on crystalline YIG thin films opens the way to design novel functions in magnonic and magneto-optic devices.

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Valerio Levati, Matteo Vitali, Andrea Del Giacco, Nicola Pellizzi, Raffaele Silvani, Luca Ciaccarini Mavilla, Marco Madami, Irene Biancardi, Davide Girardi, Matteo Panzeri, Piero Florio, Maria Cocconcelli, David Breitbach, Philipp Pirro, Ludovica Rovatti, Nora Lecis, Federico Maspero, Riccardo Bertacco, Giacomo Corrielli, Roberto Osellame, Valeria Russo, Andrea Li Bassi, Silvia Tacchi, Daniela Petti, Edoardo Albisetti. 2024-09-26. Three-dimensional nanoscale control of magnetism in crystalline Yttrium Iron Garnet. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64630-5

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