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Published on: March 24, 2019
Spin-wave dynamics of magnetic heterostructures: application to Dy/Y multilayers
1Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
Summary
We studied spin-wave dynamics in Dy/Y multilayers to distinguish interface effects from bulk Dy properties. The Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction influences spin-wave dispersion, but bulk Dy signatures persist.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Magnetism
Background:
- Spin-wave (SW) dynamics are crucial for understanding magnetic phenomena in materials.
- Separating interfacial and bulk contributions in multilayer systems is challenging.
- Dysprosium (Dy) and Yttrium (Y) multilayers offer a platform to study magnetic interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spin-wave dynamics in Dy/Y multilayers.
- To differentiate the influence of the Dy-Y interface from bulk Dy properties.
- To analyze the role of the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction in coupling Dy layers.
Main Methods:
- Analytical determination of spin-wave frequencies and intensities in bulk Dy.
- Examination of spin-wave dispersion relations in decoupled Dy layers within a multilayer geometry.
- Modeling the effect of RKKY interaction through Y spacers on spin-wave excitations.
Main Results:
- Decoupled Dy layers exhibit discontinuous spin-wave dispersion with discrete excitations.
- RKKY interaction leads to dispersive spin-wave excitations and splitting of main SW branches due to multilayer geometry.
- The characteristic dispersion signature of bulk Dy remains observable irrespective of RKKY interaction strength.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully separates interfacial and bulk spin-wave contributions in Dy/Y multilayers.
- RKKY interaction plays a significant role in modifying spin-wave behavior in these systems.
- The inherent bulk Dy spin-wave properties are robust and identifiable even within a multilayer structure.
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