Scientists at Kazan Federal University (KFU) have achieved success in controlling the spectrum of standing spin waves (SSW) in ferromagnetic films of Pd-Fe alloy with variable composition. The research is being conducted within the framework of the "Priority-2030" program and with the support of a mega-grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
The work was carried out in the Research Laboratory "Heterostructures for Post-Silicon Electronics" under the guidance of Roman Yusupov. Magnonics, a new branch of electronics, uses magnons — quanta of spin waves — to transmit information, which can lead to the creation of more energy-efficient microprocessors (they will reduce electricity costs and allow the creation of more powerful data processing systems).
Scientists have developed a method for controlling the composition of a "gradient" magnetic material and were able to accurately model the magnetic properties describing the spin-wave spectrum. For this, molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) was used, which ensures high purity and an ideal crystalline structure of materials.
The study examines the resonant spectrum of standing spin waves (SSW — frequencies of magnetic oscillations) in inhomogeneous films at temperatures from 10 to 300 degrees Kelvin. In a gradient film made of palladium and iron alloy with unique properties (Pd-Fe), each layer has its own temperature at which the transition to the ferromagnetic state (state with a constant magnetic moment) occurs, which allows controlling the SSW spectrum by changing the sample temperature.
The MBE method, first used in 2022, confirmed the possibility of controlling the spectrum of standing spin waves.
The knowledge gained opens up new perspectives for magnonics, including the creation of magnonic diodes and logic gates.
The next step for scientists will be the creation of nanostructures from "gradient" materials for the transmission and processing of information. These structures are planned to be developed at the Center for Advanced Methods of Mesophysics and Nanotechnology at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
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