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Updated: Dec 24, 2025
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Spectral and Angle-Resolved Magneto-Optical Characterization of Photonic Nanostructures
Published on: November 21, 2019
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Nanoscale Detection of Magnon Excitations with Variable Wavevectors Through a Quantum Spin Sensor
Eric Lee-Wong1,2, Ruolan Xue3,4, Feiyang Ye1
1Department of Physics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States.
Nano Letters
|April 17, 2020
Summary
Researchers optically detected magnons in yttrium iron garnet thin films using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) quantum sensors. This method allows studying spin dynamics in emergent spintronic materials.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Sensing
- Spintronics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Magnons are fundamental excitations in magnetic materials.
- Understanding magnon dynamics is crucial for developing advanced spintronic devices.
- Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond offer sensitive nanoscale magnetic field detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To optically detect magnons with a broad range of wavevectors in Y3Fe5O12 thin films.
- To demonstrate the utility of NV single-spin sensors for probing spin dynamics.
- To provide an alternative optical method for studying magnetic systems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized proximate nitrogen-vacancy (NV) single-spin sensors for optical detection.
- Investigated multimagnon scattering processes to excite magnons.
- Measured variations in spin-dependent photoluminescence of NV centers.
Main Results:
- Successfully detected magnons with wavevectors up to approximately 5 × 10^7 m^-1.
- Observed that excited magnons generate fluctuating magnetic fields affecting NV spin relaxation.
- Demonstrated optical access to magnons with variable wavevectors.
Conclusions:
- NV single-spin quantum sensors provide a powerful tool for exploring nanoscale spin dynamics.
- This technique offers a new perspective for studying emergent spintronic materials.
- The findings open opportunities for advancing quantum sensing applications in magnetism.
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