Pinned domain wall oscillator as a tuneable direct current spin wave emitter

Tuning domain wall oscillation frequency in bent nanowires through a mechanical analogy

In this work, we present a theoretical model for domain wall (DW) oscillations in a curved magnetic nanowire with a constant curvature under the action of a uniaxial magnetic field. Our results show that the DW dynamics can be described as that of the mechanical pendulum, and both the NW curvature and the external magnetic field influence its oscillatory frequency. A comparison between our theoretical approach and experimental data in the literature shows an excellent agreement. The results presented here can be used to design devices demanding the proper control of the DW oscillatory motion in NWs.

Influence of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and perpendicular anisotropy on spin waves propagation in stripe domain patterns and spin spirals

Texture-based magnonics focuses on the utilization of spin waves in magnetization textures to process information. Using micromagnetic simulations, we study how (1) the dynamic magnetic susceptibility, (2) dispersion relations, and (3) the equilibrium magnetic configurations in periodic magnetization textures in a ultrathin ferromagnetic film in remanence depend on the values of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and the perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy. We observe that for large Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction values, spin spirals with periods of tens of nanometers are the preferred state; for small Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction values and large anisotropies, stripe domain patterns with over a thousand times larger period are preferable. We observe and explain the selectivity of the excitation of resonant modes by a linearly polarized microwave field. We study the propagation of spin waves along and perpendicular to the direction of the periodicity. For propagation along the direction of the periodicity, we observe a bandgap that closes and reopens, which is accompanied by a swap in the order of the bands. For waves propagating in the perpendicular direction, some modes can be used for unidirectional channeling of spin waves. Overall, our findings are promising in sensing and signal processing applications and explain the fundamental properties of periodic magnetization textures.

Design of a Radial Vortex-Based Spin-Torque Nano-Oscillator in a Strain-Mediated Multiferroic Nanostructure for BFSK/BASK Applications

Radial vortex-based spin torque nano-oscillators (RV-STNOs) have attracted extensive attention as potential nano microwave signal generators due to their advantages over other topological states, such as their higher oscillation, higher microwave power, and lower power consumption. However, the current driving the oscillation frequency of the STNOs must be limited in a small range of adjustment, which means less data transmission channels. In this paper, a new RV-STNO system is proposed with a multiferroic nanostructure, which consists of an ultrathin magnetic multilayer and a piezoelectric layer. Phase diagrams of oscillation frequency and amplitude with respect to piezostrain and current are obtained through micromagnetic simulation. The results show that the threshold current density of −4000-ppm compressive strain-assisted RV-STNOs is reduced from 2 × 10⁹ A/m² to 2 × 10⁸ A/m², showing one order of magnitude lower than that of conventional current-driven nano-oscillators. Meanwhile, the range of oscillation frequency adjustment is significantly enhanced, and there is an increased amplitude at the low oscillation point. Moreover, a promising digital binary frequency-shift key (BFSK) and binary amplitude-shift key (BASK) modulation technique is proposed under the combined action of current pulse and piezostrain pulse. They can transmit bit signals and show good modulation characteristics with a minimal transient state. These results provide a reference for developing the next generation of spintronic nano-oscillators with a wide frequency range and low power consumption, showing potential for future wireless communication applications.

Spin-Wave Emission from Vortex Cores under Static Magnetic Bias Fields

We studied the influence of a static in-plane magnetic field on the alternating-field-driven emission of nanoscale spin waves from magnetic vortex cores. Time-resolved scanning transmission X-ray microscopy was used to image spin waves in disk structures of synthetic ferrimagnets and single ferromagnetic layers. For both systems, it was found that an increasing magnetic bias field continuously displaces the wave-emitting vortex core from the center of the disk toward its edge without noticeably altering the spin-wave dispersion relation. In the case of the single-layer disk, an anisotropic lateral expansion of the core occurs at higher magnetic fields, which leads to a directional rather than radial-isotropic emission and propagation of waves. Micromagnetic simulations confirm these findings and further show that focusing effects occur in such systems, depending on the shape of the core and controlled by the static magnetic bias field.

Emission and propagation of 1D and 2D spin waves with nanoscale wavelengths in anisotropic spin textures

Spin waves offer intriguing perspectives for computing and signal processing, because their damping can be lower than the ohmic losses in conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuits. Magnetic domain walls show considerable potential as magnonic waveguides for on-chip control of the spatial extent and propagation of spin waves. However, low-loss guidance of spin waves with nanoscale wavelengths and around angled tracks remains to be shown. Here, we demonstrate spin wave control using natural anisotropic features of magnetic order in an interlayer exchange-coupled ferromagnetic bilayer. We employ scanning transmission X-ray microscopy to image the generation of spin waves and their propagation across distances exceeding multiples of the wavelength. Spin waves propagate in extended planar geometries as well as along straight or curved one-dimensional domain walls. We observe wavelengths between 1 μm and 150 nm, with excitation frequencies ranging from 250 MHz to 3 GHz. Our results show routes towards the practical implementation of magnonic waveguides in the form of domain walls in future spin wave logic and computational circuits.

Label-free photoacoustic microscopy for in-vivo tendon imaging using a fiber-based pulse laser

Tendons are tough, flexible, and ubiquitous tissues that connect muscle to bone. Tendon injuries are a common musculoskeletal injury, which affect 7% of all patients and are involved in up to 50% of sports-related injuries in the United States. Various imaging modalities are used to evaluate tendons, and both magnetic resonance imaging and sonography are used clinically to evaluate tendons with non-invasive and non-ionizing radiation. However, these modalities cannot provide 3-dimensional (3D) structural images and are limited by angle dependency. In addition, anisotropy is an artifact that is unique to the musculoskeletal system. Thus, great care should be taken during tendon imaging. The present study evaluated a functional photoacoustic microscopy system for in-vivo tendon imaging without labeling. Tendons have a higher density of type 1 collagen in a cross-linked triple-helical formation (65–80% dry-weight collagen and 1–2% elastin in a proteoglycan-water matrix) than other tissues, which provides clear endogenous absorption contrast in the near-infrared spectrum. Therefore, photoacoustic imaging with a high sensitivity to absorption contrast is a powerful tool for label-free imaging of tendons. A pulsed near-infrared fiber-based laser with a centered wavelength of 780 nm was used for the imaging, and this system successfully provided a 3D image of mouse tendons with a wide field of view (5 × 5 mm²).