arXiv subjects

Philipp Pirro

Publications and source records attributed to Philipp Pirro.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

YSGAG: The Ideal Substrate for YIG in Quantum Magnonics

Quantum magnonics leverages the quantum properties of magnons to advance nanoscale quantum information technologies. Ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet (YIG), known for exceptionally long magnon lifetimes, is a cornerstone material typically grown as thin films on gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) for lattice matching. However, paramagnetic GGG introduces detrimental damping at low temperatures due to substrate magnetization, undermining quantum applications. Here, we study magnetic damping in a 150$\,$nm-thick YIG film on a yttrium scandium gallium aluminum garnet (YSGAG) substrate, a newly developed diamagnetic alternative to GGG. Using ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy down to 30$\,$mK, we compare YIG/YSGAG with a conventional YIG/GGG reference system. We demonstrate that the YIG/YSGAG system maintains low damping from 300$\,$K to 30$\,$mK, with $α= 4.29\times10^{-5}$ at room temperature, comparable to the best YIG/GGG films and bulk YIG, with no low-temperature upturn. The diamagnetic substrate eliminates the dissipation mechanisms that dominate on magnetized GGG, preserving low magnetic damping across the full temperature range. Consequently, YSGAG serves as an ideal substrate for YIG films in quantum magnonics and is paving the way for the development of spin-wave-based quantum technologies.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

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↗

arXiv2025

Modelling spin-wave interference with electromagnetic leakage in micron-scaled spin-wave transducers

Utilization of spin-wave transducers for radio-frequency signal processing provides significant potential due to intrinsic tunability, scalability and nonlinearity. However, such components can exhibit passband ripples diminishing their operation and functionality. Here, we experimentally identify the electromagnetic crosstalk (EM) as a major source of passband ripples and provide a simple analytic model to predict the impact on device operation. The results are in good agreement with the experimental observation. In addition, we test multiple transducer geometries to identify operational regimes and minimize the EM impact. Finally, the effect of nonlinear device operation on the passband ripples is addressed, which is of relevance for the exploitation of the spin-waves intrinsic nonlinear traits.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Charge accumulation by Direct Magnetoelectric Effect in ScAlN/Ni Nanoscale Devices

This work investigates the direct magnetoelectric effect in thin-film lab scale composite heterostructures comprising a 100 nm thick piezoelectric Sc0.4Al0.6N (ScAlN) and a magnetostrictive Ni with 100-200 nm thickness, fabricated on Si/SiO2 substrates. The films are patterned into square pillar arrays with lateral dimensions down to 500 nm x 500 nm. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) measurements reveal in-plane magnetic anisotropy in the Ni films, attributed to strain induced by the underlying ScAlN layer. Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) magnetometry imaging confirms the formation of magnetic domains at remanence in polycrystalline Ni when patterned in sub-microscale structures. Capacitance measurements reveal a ScAlN dielectric constant at the device level consistent with unpatterned thin films, confirming the preservation of electrical integrity at the sub-microscale. The direct magnetoelectric effect is demonstrated through quasi-static charge measurements under applied out-of-plane DC magnetic fields, yielding equivalent open-circuit voltages up to 1.17 mV.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Magnon-polaron control in a surface magnetoacoustic wave resonator

Strong coupling between distinct quasiparticles in condensed matter systems gives rise to hybrid states with emergent properties. We demonstrate the hybridization of confined phonons and finite-wavelength magnons, forming a magnon-polaron cavity with tunable coupling strength and spatial confinement controlled by the applied magnetic field direction. Our platform consists of a low-loss, single-crystalline yttrium iron garnet (YIG) film coupled to a zinc oxide (ZnO)-based surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator. This heterostructure enables exceptionally low magnon-polaron dissipation rates below $κ/ 2π< 1.5\;$MHz. The observed mode hybridization is well described by a phenomenological model incorporating the spatial profiles of magnon and phonon modes. Furthermore, we report the first observation of Rabi-like oscillations in a coupled SAW-spin wave system, revealing the dynamical formation of magnon-polarons in the time domain. These results establish a platform for engineering hybrid spin-acoustic excitations in extended magnetic systems and enable time-resolved studies of magnon-polaron states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Deeply Nonlinear Magnonic Directional Coupler

Dipolar coupling between closely spaced magnetic waveguides enables the design of magnonic directional couplers - universal devices capable of functioning as signal combiners, power splitters, demultiplexers, and more. The wavelength-dependent coupling, combined with the weak nonlinear variation of a spin wave's wavelength at constant-frequency, introduces power-dependent characteristics of directional couplers. This property has been leveraged in the development of magnonic logic elements and other applications. Here, we explore another nonlinear phenomenon in a directional coupler arising purely from the nonlinear frequency shift of spin waves. We show that a strong nonlinear frequency shift causes the coupler to behave as if composed of nonidentical waveguides, suppressing the energy transfer between the waveguides. The transition from complete to negligible energy transfer exhibits a sharp threshold behavior, where the critical power is determined by the coupling strength and nonlinear frequency shift parameter. Based on these findings, a switchable directional coupler as a critical component for future integrated magnonic circuits is designed and validated by micromagnetic simulations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Identification and minimization of losses in microscaled spin-wave transducers

Magnonics is a promising platform for integrated radio frequency (rf) devices, leveraging its inherent non-reciprocity and reconfigurability. However, the efficiency of spin-wave transducers driven by rf-currents remains a major challenge. In this study, we systematically investigate a spin-wave transducer composed of micron-sized rf antennas on yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films of different thickness - an ideal testbed for integrated magnonic devices. Using propagating spin-wave spectroscopy and numerical simulations, we analyze spin-wave transmission, identifying key loss mechanisms and improving device efficiency by reducing ohmic resistance. The resulting improvements enable the reduction of insertion loss to below $\SI{10}{dB}$ in microscaled spin-wave transducers. At the same time large non-reciprocity can be exploited to achieve significant isolation on the microscale.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Dynamic interfacial effects in ultrathin ferromagnetic bilayers

We investigate the magnetization dynamics of an ultrathin Co (1.5 nm) /Py (1.5 nm) bilayer system from femtosecond (fs) to nanosecond (ns) timescales. Magnetization dynamics in the fs timescales is characterized as a highly non-equilibrium regime due to an ultrafast reduction of magnetization by laser excitation. On the other hand, the dynamics in the ns timescales is characterized as a close-to-equilibrium regime involving the excitation of coherent magnons. We demonstrate that the interfacial interaction between the Co and Py layers in these two non-equilibrium regimes across the timescales is dynamic and simultaneously influences the magnetization loss in the fs timescales and the magnon dynamics in the ns timescales. On ultrafast (fs) timescales, comparison between time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect (TR-MOKE) measurements and temperature-based μT model simulations reveals that the bilayer exhibits demagnetization dynamics intermediate between those of its individual layers. When driven far from equilibrium by ultrashort laser pulse excitation, the magnetization dynamics of the individual Co and Py layers appear to remain decoupled and evolve independently in the initial stages of the ultrafast response. On the other hand, in the ns regime, the two individual layers of the bilayer precess together at the same frequency in a coupled manner as one effective single layer. Furthermore, by correlating the ultrafast demagnetization to precessional damping we attempt to bridge the two non-equilibrium regimes across fs to ns timescales. These results improve our understanding of magnetization dynamics across timescales in ultrathin exchanged-coupled ferromagnetic bilayers and provide valuable insights for the design of high-frequency and energy efficient spintronic device concepts.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Magnetic nutation: transient separation of magnetization from its angular momentum

For nearly 90 years, precession and relaxation processes have been thought to dominate magnetization dynamics. Only recently has it been considered that, on short time scales, an inertia-driven magnetization dynamics should become relevant, leading to additional nutation of the magnetization vector. Here, we trigger magnetic nutation via a sudden excitation of a thin Ni80Fe20 (Permalloy) film with an ultrashort optical pulse, that leads to an abrupt tilting of the effective field acting on the magnetic moments, separating the dynamics of the magnetization from that of its angular momentum. We investigate the resulting magnetization dynamics in the inertial regime experimentally by the time-resolved magneto optical Kerr effect. We find a characteristic oscillation in the Kerr signal in the range of about 0.1 THz superimposed on the precessional oscillations with GHz frequencies. By comparison with atomistic spin dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that this observation cannot be explained by the well-known Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation of motion but can be attributed to inertial contributions leading to nutation of the magnetization vector around its angular momentum. Hence, an optical and non-resonant excitation of inertial magnetization dynamics can trigger and control different magnetic processes, ranging from demagnetization via nutation to precession in a single device. These findings will have profound implications for the understanding of ultrafast spin dynamics and magnetization switching.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Tunable Enhancement of Magnetization Dynamics by Crystal Cut at Interface Exchange Coupled $α$-Fe$_2$O$_3$/NiFe Heterostructures

We investigate spin dynamics in $α$-Fe$_{2}$O$_{3}$/Ni$_{80}$Fe$_{20}$ (Py) heterostructures, uncovering a robust mechanism for in-situ modulation of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) through precise control of temperature, applied magnetic field and crystal orientation. Employing cryogenic ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the interfacial coupling between the Néel vector of $α$-Fe$_{2}$O$_{3}$ and the magnetization of the Py layer is highly tunable across the Morin transition temperature $(T_M)$. Our experiments reveal distinct resonance behavior for different crystal orientations, highlighting the pivotal role of exchange coupling strength in dictating FMR frequencies. Theoretical modeling corroborates the experimental findings, elucidating the dependence of coupling on the relative alignment of the Néel vector and ferromagnetic magnetization. Notably, we achieve significant modulation of FMR frequencies by manipulating the Néel vector configuration, facilitated by temperature variations, applied magnetic fields and crystal orientation adjustments. These advancements demonstrate the potential for dynamic control of spin interactions in AFM/FM heterostructures, paving the way for the development of advanced spintronic devices with tunable magnetic properties. Our work provides critical insights into the fundamental interactions governing hybrid spin systems and opens new avenues for the design of versatile, temperature-responsive magnetoelectronic applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Efficient spin-wave excitation by surface acoustic waves in ultra-low damping YIG/ZnO-heterostructures

We demonstrate the efficient excitation of spin waves in the ultra-low magnetic damping material yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) by surface acoustic waves (SAWs). To this end, we employ interdigital transducers fabricated on a piezoelectric zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film covering the YIG. This enables the excitation of coherent, propagating Rayleigh-type and Sezawa-type SAWs. We find that the ultralow magnetic damping of YIG is retained after the ZnO-deposition and we carry out a comprehensive investigation of the magnetoelastic interaction due to the different SAW modes as a function of the external magnetic field magnitude and orientation. By measuring the SAW attenuation our experiments reveal a highly anisotropic and non-reciprocal SAW-SW-interaction in agreement with our model caluclation, while demonstrating that low-damping magnons can be efficiently excited by SAWs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Self Biased Integrated Magnonic Device

In the race towards "beyond 6G" telecommunication platforms, magnonics emerges as a promising solution due to its wide tunability within the FR3 band (7-24 GHz). So far, however, the need for an external magnetic bias field to allow the coherent excitation of spin waves has been a major bottleneck. Conventional bulky electromagnets are power-intensive and challenging to integrate on-chip, restricting magnonic applications largely to academic research. Here, we present the first demonstration of a standalone, tunable magnonic device featuring all-electric input and output, fully integrated on a silicon substrate with a compact footprint of 100 x 150 $μ$m. The device consists of a CoFeB waveguide equipped with two radio frequency antennas, flanked by a symmetric configuration of T-shaped magnetic flux concentrators and rectangular SmCo permanent micromagnets. By varying the distance D between the flux concentrators and the permanent magnets from 0 to 12 $μ$m, the transverse bias field can be tuned from 20.5 mT to 11 mT, respectively. This variation directly modulates the dispersion relation of Damon-Eshbach spin wave modes in the CoFeB waveguide. In these proof-of-concept devices, the spin wave frequency band ranges from 3 to 8 GHz, with precise phase shift tuning of up to 120 degrees at 6 GHz achieved by varying D within the 0-8 $μ$m range. The operational frequency band could even be pushed to higher frequencies through optimized micromagnet engineering.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2024

YIG/CoFeB bilayer magnonic diode

We demonstrate a magnonic diode based on a bilayer structure of Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) and Cobalt Iron Boron (CoFeB). The bilayer exhibits pronounced non-reciprocal spin-wave propagation, enabled by dipolar coupling and the magnetic properties of the two layers. The YIG layer provides low damping and efficient spin-wave propagation, while the CoFeB layer introduces strong magnetic anisotropy, critical for achieving diode functionality. Experimental results, supported by numerical simulations, show unidirectional propagation of Magnetostatic Surface Spin Waves (MSSW), significantly suppressing backscattered waves. This behavior was confirmed through wavevector-resolved and micro-focused Brillouin Light Scattering measurements and is supported by numerical simulations. The proposed YIG/SiO$_2$/CoFeB bilayer magnonic diode demonstrates the feasibility of leveraging non-reciprocal spin-wave dynamics for functional magnonic devices, paving the way for energy-efficient, wave-based signal processing technologies.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2024

Design rules for low-insertion-loss magnonic transducers

We present a computational framework for the design of magnonic transducers, where waveguide antennas generate and pick up spin-wave signals. Our method relies on the combination of circuit-level models with micromagnetic simulations and allows simulation of complex geometries in the magnonic domain. We validated our model with experimental measurements, which showed good agreement witch the predicted scattering parameters of the system. Using our model we identified scaling rules of the antenna radiation resistance and we show strategies to maximize transduction efficiency between the electric and magnetic domains. We designed a transducer pair on YIG with 5dB insertion loss in a 100 MHz band, an unusually low value for micron-scale spin-wave devices. This demonstrates that magnonic devices can be very efficient and competitive in RF applications.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2024

Fast switchable unidirectional magnon emitter

Magnon spintronics is an emerging field that explores the use of magnons, the quanta of spin waves in magnetic materials for information processing and communication. Achieving unidirectional information transport with fast switching capability is critical for the development of fast integrated magnonic circuits, which offer significant advantages in high-speed, low-power information processing. However, previous unidirectional information transport has primarily focused on Damon-Eshbach spin wave modes, which are non-switchable as their propagation direction is defined by the direction of the external field and cannot be changed in a short time. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a fast switchable unidirectional magnon emitter in the forward volume spin wave mode by a current-induced asymmetric Oersted field. Our findings reveal significant nonreciprocity and nanosecond switchability, underscoring the potential of the method to advance high-speed spin-wave processing networks.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Tuning magnonic devices with on-chip permanent micromagnets

One of the most appealing features of magnonics is the easy tunability of spin-waves propagation via external magnetic fields. Usually this requires bulky and power-hungry electromagnets which are not compatible with device miniaturization. Here we propose a different approach, exploiting the stray field from permanent micromagnets integrated on the same chip of a magnonic wave-guide. In our monolithic device, we employ two SmCo square micromagnets (10x10 $μ$m$^2$) flanking a CoFeB conduit at different distances from its axis, to produce a tunable transverse bias field between 7.5 and 3.0 mT in the conduit region between the magnets. Spin waves excited by an antenna just outside the region between the magnets enter a region with a variable higher (lower) effective field when an external bias field is applied parallel (antiparallel) to that from the micromagnets. Consequently, the attenuation length and phase shift of Damon-Eshbach spin waves can be tuned in a wide range by playing with the parallel-antiparallel configuration of the external bias and the distance between SmCo micromagnets and the CoFeB conduit. This work demonstrates the potential of permanent micro-magnets for the realization of low-power, integrated magnonic devices with tunable functionalities.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2024

All-magnonic repeater based on bistability

Bistability, a universal phenomenon found in diverse fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics, describes a scenario in which a system has two stable equilibrium states and resets to one of the two states. The ability to switch between these two states is the basis for a wide range of applications, particularly in memory and logic operations. Here, we present a universal approach to achieve bistable switching in magnonics, the field processing data using spin waves. As an exemplary application, we use magnonic bistability to experimentally demonstrate the still missing magnonic repeater. A pronounced bistable window is observed in a 1um wide magnonic conduit under an external rf drive characterized by two magnonic stable states defined as low and high spin-wave amplitudes. The switching between these two states is realized by another propagating spin wave sent into the rf driven region. This magnonic bistable switching is used to design the magnonic repeater, which receives the original decayed and distorted spin wave and regenerates a new spin wave with amplified amplitude and normalized phase. Our magnonic repeater is proposed to be installed at the inputs of each magnonic logic gate to overcome the spin-wave amplitude degradation and phase distortion during previous propagation and achieve integrated magnonic circuits or magnonic neuromorphic networks.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2024

Anisotropy-assisted magnon condensation in ferromagnetic thin films

We theoretically demonstrate that adding an easy-axis magnetic anisotropy facilitates magnon condensation in thin yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films. Dipolar interactions in a quasi-equilibrium state stabilize room-temperature magnon condensation in YIG. Even though the out-of-plane easy-axis anisotropy generally competes with the dipolar interactions, we show that adding such magnetic anisotropy may even assist the generation of the magnon condensate electrically via the spin transfer torque mechanism. We use analytical calculations and micromagnetic simulations to illustrate this effect. Our results may explain the recent experiment on Bi-doped YIG and open a pathway toward applying current-driven magnon condensation in quantum spintronics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗