Manipulation of high-frequency spin waves in ferromagnetic thin films via magnetic torques induced by ultrafast demagnetization

Abstract

Spin-based technologies demand the effective excitation and control of high-frequency spin waves in order to increase the operational speed of magnonic logic circuits. An available option for the high-frequency spin wave is the perpendicular standing spin waves (PSSWs) in ferromagnetic thin films. However, the practical utilization of a PSSW is still challenging due to a few unsolved critical issues such as its relatively low amplitude and simultaneous excitation of other PSSW modes. Here, efficient excitation and control of a first-order PSSW mode are demonstrated in Ni80Fe20 thin films using a double-laser-pulse scheme. Based upon our experimental and theoretical investigations, it is found that the precession amplitudes of the Kittel and PSSW modes show strong dependence on equivalent torques (i.e., the averaged torques during fast relaxation process after the second pulse excitation) applied to these two modes. Thus, selective excitation and amplification of the first-order PSSW mode can be realized by manipulating the equivalent torque, i.e., introducing a second laser pulse with an appropriate arrival time and laser fluence. Moreover, the spectral tuning of this single PSSW mode can be achieved by proportionately adjusting the laser fluence of two pump pulses. These findings may pave the way for the realization and construction of future high-performance spintronic devices.