Hybridization of Spin and Plasma Waves in Josephson Tunnel Junctions Containing a Ferromagnetic Layer

TL;DR

This paper investigates the coupled dynamics of superconducting phase and magnetic moments in Josephson junctions with ferromagnetic layers, revealing hybrid spin-plasma modes and new features in I-V characteristics.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model describing hybrid spin and plasma wave modes in SIFS Josephson junctions with ferromagnetic layers, highlighting new collective excitations.

Findings

Discovery of a hybrid spin-plasma wave mode.

Identification of new peaks in I-V characteristics.

Potential for probing spin excitations via electrical measurements.

Abstract

We study dynamics of tunnel Josephson junctions with a thin ferromagnetic layer F [superconductor-insulator-ferromagnet-superconductor (SIFS) junctions]. On the basis of derived equations relating the superconducting phase and magnetic moment to each other we analyze collective excitations in the system and find a new mode which is a hybrid of plasmalike and spin waves. The latter are coupled together in a broad range of parameters characterizing the system. Using the solution describing the collective modes we demonstrate that besides the Fiske steps new peaks appear on the I-V characteristics due to oscillations of the magnetic moment M in the ferromagnetic layer. Thus, by measuring the I-V curve of the SIFS junctions, one can extract information about the spectrum of spin excitations in the ferromagnet F.