Nonlocal optical generation of spin and charge currents on the surface of magnetic insulators using total absorption and surface plasmons

TL;DR

This paper explores how magnetic surface plasmons absorbed by a metallic element on magnetic insulators can generate nonlocal spin and charge currents, offering new avenues for spintronics and spin wave logic device development.

Contribution

It demonstrates the nonlocal generation of spin and charge currents via MSP absorption on magnetic insulator surfaces, a novel mechanism for spintronic applications.

Findings

MSP absorption induces voltage proportional to input power.

Ferromagnetic metals can generate spin currents longitudinally.

Method enhances integrated spintronics and spin wave devices.

Abstract

We study the nonlocal spin and charge current generation in a finite metallic element on the surface of magnetic insulators such as \tcb{yttrium iron garnet} due to the absorption of the magnetic surface plasmon (MSP). Whereas a surface plasmon is completely reflected by a metal, \tcb{an} MSP \tcb{can be} absorbed \tcb{due to the absence of backward states}. The \tcb{injection of} MSP generates a voltage in the longitudinal direction parallel to the wave vector, \tcb{with the voltage} proportional to input power. If the metal is a ferromagnet, a spin current can also be \tcb{induced} in the longitudinal direction. Our \tcb{results provide a way to improve upon} integrated circuits of spintronics and spin wave logic devices.