arXiv subjects

Meng Hau Kuok

Publications and source records attributed to Meng Hau Kuok.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

Eigenmodes of Neel skyrmions in ultrathin magnetic films

The static and dynamic states of Néel skyrmions in ultrathin ferromagnetic films with interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) have been micromagnetically simulated as functions of the interfacial DMI strength and applied static magnetic field. Findings reveal that while the breathing, counterclockwise (CCW) and clockwise (CW) rotational eigenmodes exist in the skyrmion lattice (SkL) phase, only the first two modes are present in the isolated skyrmion (ISk) phase. Additionally, the eigenfrequency of the CCW mode is insensitive to the magnetic-field driven SkL-ISk phase transition, and the inter-skyrmion interaction is largely responsible for exciting the CW mode in the SkL phase. The findings provide physical insight into the dynamics of the phase transition and would be of use to potential skyrmion-based microwave applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Continuous Tuning the Magnitude and Direction of Spin-Orbit Torque Using Bilayer Heavy Metals

Spin-orbit torques (SOTs) have opened a new path to switch the magnetization in perpendicularly magnetized films and are of great interest due to their potential applications in novel data storage technology, such as the magnetic random access memory (MRAM). The effective manipulation of SOT has thus become an important step towards these applications. Here, current induced spin-orbit effective fields and magnetization switching are investigated in Pt/Ta/CoFeB/MgO structures with bilayer heavy metals. With a fixed thickness (1 nm) of the Ta layer, the magnitude and sign of current induced spin-orbit effective fields can be continuously tuned by changing the Pt layer thickness, consistent with the current induced magnetization switching data. The ratio of longitudinal to transverse spin-orbit effective fields is found to be determined by the Ta/CoFeB interface and can be continuously tuned by changing the Pt layer thickness. The Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) is found to be weak and shows an insignificant variation with the Pt thickness. The results demonstrate an effective method to tune SOTs utilizing bilayer heavy metals without affecting the DMI, a desirable feature which will be useful for the design of SOT-based devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

In-plane angular dependence of the spin-wave nonreciprocity of an ultrathin film with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction

The nonreciprocal propagation of spin waves in an ultrathin Pt/Co/Ni film has been measured by Brillouin light scattering. The frequency nonreciprocity, due to the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), has a sinusoidal dependence on the in-plane angle between the magnon wavevector and the applied magnetic field. The results, which are in good agreement with analytical predictions reported earlier, yield a value of the DMI constant which is the same as that obtained previously from a study of the magnon dispersion relations. We have demonstrated that our magnon-dynamics based method can experimentally ascertain the DMI constant of multilayer thin films.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Asymmetric spin-wave dispersion due to Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in an ultrathin Pt/CoFeB film

Employing Brillouin spectroscopy, strong interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions have been observed in an ultrathin Pt/CoFeB film. Our micromagnetic simulations show that spin-wave nonreciprocity due to asymmetric surface pinning is insignificant for the 0.8nmthick CoFeB film studied. The observed high asymmetry of the monotonic spin wave dispersion relation is thus ascribed to strong Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions present at the Pt/CoFeB interface. Our findings should further enhance the significance of CoFeB as an important material for magnonic, spintronic and skyrmionic applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Direct observation of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in a Pt/Co/Ni film

The interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) in an in-plane anisotropic Pt(4nm)/Co(1.6nm)/Ni(1.6nm) film has been directly observed by Brillouin spectroscopy. It is manifested in the asymmetry of the measured magnon dispersion relation, from which the DMI constant has been evaluated. Linewidth measurements reveal that the lifetime of the magnons is asymmetric with respect to their counter-propagating directions. The lifetime asymmetry is dependent on the magnon frequency, being more pronounced the higher the frequency. Analytical calculations of the magnon dispersion relation and linewidth agree well with experiments.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Band structure of magnonic crystals with defects: Brillouin spectroscopy and micromagnetic simulations

Using Brillouin spectroscopy, the first observation has been made of the band structures of nanostructured defect magnonic crystals. The samples are otherwise one-dimensional periodic arrays of equal-width Ni80Fe20 and cobalt nanostripes, where the defects are stripes of a different width. A dispersionless defect branch emerges within the bandgap with a frequency tunable by varying the defect stripe width, while the other branches observed are similar to those of a defect-free crystal. Micromagnetic and finite-element simulations performed unveil additional tiny bandgaps and the frequency-dependent localization of the defect mode in the vicinity of the defects.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Spin-wave nonreciprocity based on interband magnonic transitions

We theoretically demonstrate linear spin-wave nonreciprocity in a Ni80Fe20 nanostripe waveguide, based on interband magnonic transitions induced by a time-reversal and spatialinversion symmetry breaking magnetic field. An analytical coupled-mode theory of spin waves, developed to describe the transitions which are accompanied by simultaneous frequency and wavevector shifts of the coupled spin waves, is well corroborated by numerical simulations. Our findings could pave the way for the realization of spin-wave isolation and the dynamic control of spin-wave propagation in nanoscale magnonic integrated circuits via an applied magnetic field.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗