Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 14, 2025

Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains
Published on: July 20, 2022
Spin-Wave Dynamics and Symmetry Breaking in an Artificial Spin Ice
Susmita Saha1,2,3, Jingyuan Zhou1,2, Kevin Hofhuis1,2
1Laboratory for Mesoscopic Systems, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Artificial spin ices are periodic arrangements of interacting nanomagnets which allow investigating emergent phenomena in the presence of geometric frustration. Recently, it has been shown that artificial spin ices can be used as building blocks for creating functional materials, such as magnonic crystals. We investigate the magnetization dynamics in a system exhibiting anisotropic magnetostatic interactions owing to locally broken structural inversion symmetry. We find a rich spin-wave spectrum and investigate its evolution in an external magnetic field. We determine the evolution of individual modes, from building blocks up to larger arrays, highlighting the role of symmetry breaking in defining the mode profiles. Moreover, we demonstrate that the mode spectra exhibit signatures of long-range interactions in the system. These results contribute to the understanding of magnetization dynamics in spin ices beyond the kagome and square ice geometries and are relevant for the realization of reconfigurable magnonic crystals based on spin ices.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview
Spin–Spin Coupling Constant: Overview
Qualitatively, any spin plus-half nucleus polarizes the spins of its electrons to the minus-half state. Consequently, the paired electron in the hydrogen–carbon bond must...
Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing
Spin–Spin Coupling: One-Bond Coupling
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Population Distribution

