New Technique Enhances Detection of Nanoscale Spin Waves

Phase-resolved optical characterization of nanoscale spin waves

Researchers from Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic have developed a groundbreaking method for detecting and measuring nanoscale spin waves, which could revolutionize the field of magneto-optics and spintronics.

The study, published in Applied Physics Letters, utilized phase-resolved Brillouin light scattering (BLS) microscopy to observe spin waves in an array of silicon disks on a thin Permalloy layer.
The team employed the Cobolt Samba 532 nm laser as a critical component in their experiments. This laser provided the necessary light source for BLS microscopy, enabling the detection and measurement of spin waves in an array of silicon disks placed on a thin Permalloy layer. By passing the laser light through an electro-optical modulator, the researchers could shift the frequency of a small fraction of the light, which was essential for mapping the phase evolution of spin waves with a wavelength of 204 nm and a precision of 6 nm.

This innovative approach offers subdiffraction resolution and nanometer precision, making it a promising tool for future spintronic applications. The research underscores the importance of all-optical phase-resolved characterization techniques in advancing our understanding of spin waves at the nanoscale.