Coherent transfer of spin angular momentum by evanescent spin waves within antiferromagnetic NiO

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the coherent transfer of spin angular momentum via evanescent spin waves in antiferromagnetic NiO at room temperature, highlighting potential for nanoscale spintronic devices operating at GHz and THz frequencies.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of coherent spin current transfer in antiferromagnetic NiO using advanced x-ray techniques, showing enhancement with thin epitaxial layers.

Findings

Evanescent spin waves enable coherent spin transfer at room temperature.

Insertion of a nanometre-thick NiO layer enhances spin current flow.

Potential for GHz and THz frequency spintronic applications.

Abstract

Insulating antiferromagnets are efficient and robust conductors of spin current. To realise the full potential of these materials within spintronics, the outstanding challenges are to demonstrate scalability down to nanometric lengthscales and the transmission of coherent spin currents. Here, we report the coherent transfer of spin angular momentum by excitation of evanescent spin waves of GHz frequency within antiferromagnetic NiO at room temperature. Using element-specific and phase-resolved x-ray ferromagnetic resonance, we probe the injection and transmission of ac spin current, and demonstrate that insertion of a few nanometre thick epitaxial NiO(001) layer between a ferromagnet and non-magnet can even enhance the flow of spin current. Our results pave the way towards coherent control of the phase and amplitude of spin currents at the nanoscale, and enable the realization of spin-logic devices and spin current amplifiers that operate at GHz and THz frequencies.