arXiv subjects

David Breitbach

Publications and source records attributed to David Breitbach.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Phase-resolved imaging of coherent phonon-magnon coupling

We use a direct phase-resolved optical technique to study the coherence of spin waves (SWs) that are driven by surface acoustic waves (SAWs) via resonant magnetoelastic coupling. For this, we employ a piezoelectric lithium tantalate (LiTaO$_{3}$) substrate, equipped with micropatterned interdigital transducers for SAW excitation, which interact with SWs in a 5 nm thin and 20 $\mu$m wide Co$_{40}$Fe$_{40}$B$_{20}$-waveguide. We detect the SAW and the SW using a phase-locked micro-focused optical polarization detection experiment and use the characteristic polarization dependence to separate the SAW and SW signals. Our measurements directly image the resonant and coherent excitation of the SW by the SAW.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Spin-wave emission with current-controlled frequency by a PMA-based spin-Hall oscillator

Spin-torque and spin-Hall oscillators (SHOs) have emerged as promising candidates for building blocks in neuromorphic computing due to their ability to synchronize mutually, a process that can be mediated by propagating spin waves. We demonstrate a SHO that takes advantage of a low-damping magnetic garnet with dominant perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), namely gallium-substituted yttrium-iron-garnet (Ga:YIG). In-plane magnetized Ga:YIG allows for the operation at a high efficiency level while also enabling resonant spin-wave emission. A nonlinear self-localization of the excitation is avoided by exploiting the positive nonlinear frequency shift, which facilitates a current-controlled frequency of the emitted spin waves. Via micro-focused Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy, we investigate the properties of the local auto-oscillation and its spin-wave emission. Multiple modes are excited and compete internally, with two propagating modes detected up to distances larger than 10 $\mu$m. Their frequencies combine to an extended frequency bandwidth of approximately 1.6 GHz. The experimentally observed two-mode system and its transition to a single mode at higher currents are reproduced via micromagnetic simulations, which account for spatial variation of the PMA arising due to the microstructures on Ga:YIG. Our results propose a promising platform for hosting SHOs, interconnected via propagating spin waves with particular relevance to neuromorphic computing.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

An all-magnonic neuron with tunable fading memory

Magnonics offers nanometer-scale wave propagation and strong nonlinearities, making it attractive for neuromorphic applications such as artificial neurons. Yet, magnonic elements with interconnections solely within the magnonic system remain challenging, preventing the realization of interconnected magnonic neurons to date. Here, we experimentally demonstrate an all-magnonic neuron that reacts to magnon inputs with thresholded, amplified magnon firing and subsequent self-reset, enabling all-magnonic operation and cascading. Our approach is based on micro-antenna excitation on an ultra-low damping garnet with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), where we exploit the positive magnon frequency shift to realize nonlinear activation. Using Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy, we uncover a transient neuron response with tunable fading memory: A 25% change in pump power results in a 3-order-of-magnitude tuning in memory time, which we harness, demonstrating temporal integration of up to 50 magnon pulses. Finally, we realize neuron triggering in a cascade of 3 neurons, highlighting its potential for connected magnonic circuits.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

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

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.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Nonlinear erasing of propagating spin-wave pulses in thin-film Ga:YIG

Nonlinear phenomena are key for magnon-based information processing, but the nonlinear interaction between two spin-wave signals requires their spatio-temporal overlap which can be challenging for directional processing devices. Our study focuses on a gallium-substituted yttrium iron garnet film, which exhibits an exchange-dominated dispersion relation and thus provides a particularly broad range of group velocities compared to pure YIG. Using time- and space-resolved Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy, we demonstrate the excitation of time-separated spin-wave pulses at different frequencies from the same source, where the delayed pulse catches up with the previously excited pulse and outruns it due to its higher group velocity. By varying the excitation power of the faster pulse, the outcome can be finely tuned from a linear superposition to a nonlinear interaction of both pulses, resulting in a full attenuation of the slower pulse. Therefore, our findings demonstrate the all-magnonic erasing process of a propagating magnonic signal, which enables the realization of complex temporal logic operations with potential application, e.g., in inhibitory neuromorphic functionalities.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Stimulated amplification of propagating spin waves

Spin-wave amplification techniques are key to the realization of magnon-based computing concepts. We introduce a novel mechanism to amplify spin waves in magnonic nanostructures. Using the technique of rapid cooling, we create a non-equilibrium state in excess of high-energy magnons and demonstrate the stimulated amplification of an externally seeded, propagating spin wave. Using an extended kinetic model, we qualitatively show that the amplification is mediated by an effective energy flux of high energy magnons into the low energy propagating mode, driven by a non-equilibrium magnon distribution.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Stabilization of a nonlinear bullet coexisting with a Bose-Einstein condensate in a rapidly cooled magnonic system driven by a spin-orbit torque

We have recently shown that injection of magnons into a magnetic dielectric via the spin-orbit torque (SOT) effect in the adjacent layer of a heavy metal subjected to the action of short (0.1 $\mu$s) current pulses allows for control of a magnon Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). Here, the BEC was formed in the process of rapid cooling (RC), when the electric current heating the sample is abruptly terminated. In the present study, we show that the application of a longer (1.0 $\mu$s) electric current pulse triggers the formation of a nonlinear localized magnonic bullet below the linear magnon spectrum. After pulse termination, the magnon BEC, as before, is formed at the bottom of the linear spectrum, but the nonlinear bullet continues to exist, stabilized for additional 30 ns by the same process of RC-induced magnon condensation. Our results suggest that a stimulated condensation of excess magnons to all highly populated magnonic states occurs.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2021

Control of the Bose-Einstein Condensation of Magnons by the Spin-Hall Effect

Previously, it has been shown that rapid cooling of yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG)/platinum (Pt) nano structures, preheated by an electric current sent through the Pt layer, leads to overpopulation of a magnon gas and to subsequent formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of magnons. The spin Hall effect (SHE), which creates a spin-polarized current in the Pt layer, can inject or annihilate magnons depending on the electric current and applied field orientations. Here we demonstrate that the injection or annihilation of magnons via the SHE can prevent or promote the formation of a rapid cooling induced magnon BEC. Depending on the current polarity, a change in the BEC threshold of -8% and +6% was detected. These findings demonstrate a new method to control macroscopic quantum states, paving the way for their application in spintronic devices.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Propagation of spin-waves packets in individual nano-sized yttrium iron garnet magnonic conduits

Modern-days CMOS-based computation technology is reaching its fundamental limitations. The emerging field of magnonics, which utilizes spin waves for data transport and processing, proposes a promising path to overcome these limitations. Different devices have been demonstrated recently on the macro- and microscale, but the feasibility of the magnonics approach essentially relies on the scalability of the structure feature size down to an extent of a few 10 nm, which are typical sizes for the established CMOS technology. Here, we present a study of propagating spin-wave packets in individual yttrium iron garnet (YIG) conduits with lateral dimensions down to 50 nm. Space and time resolved micro-focused Brillouin-Light-Scattering (BLS) spectroscopy is used to characterize the YIG nanostructures and measure the spin-wave decay length and group velocity directly. The revealed magnon transport at the scale comparable to the scale of CMOS proves the general feasibility of a magnon-based data processing.

physics.app-ph↗