Effects of spin-orbit torque on the ferromagnetic and exchange spin wave modes in ferrimagnetic CoGd alloy

TL;DR

This study investigates how spin-orbit torque influences thermal spin wave modes in ferrimagnetic CoGd alloys, revealing selective effects on ferromagnetic modes and temperature-dependent behavior near compensation points.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the differential impact of spin-orbit torque on ferromagnetic and exchange spin wave modes in ferrimagnetic materials.

Findings

Spin-orbit torque modifies ferromagnetic mode intensity and linewidth.

Exchange mode properties remain unaffected by spin-orbit torque.

Joule heating significantly affects mode frequencies and linewidths.

Abstract

We use micro-focus Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy to study the effects of spin-orbit torque on thermal spin waves in almost angular-momentum compensated ferrimagnetic CoGd alloy films. The spin-orbit torque is produced by the electric current flowing in the Pt layer adjacent to CoGd. Both the ferromagnetic and the exchange modes are detected in our measurements. The intensity and the linewidth of the ferromagnetic mode are modified by the spin-orbit torque. In contrast, the properties of the exchange mode are unaffected by the spin-orbit torque. We also find that the frequencies and the linewidths of both modes are significantly modified by Joule heating, due to the strong temperature dependence of the magnetic properties of CoGd in the vicinity of angular momentum compensation point. Our results provide insight into the mechanisms that can enable the implementation of sub-THz magnetic nano-oscillators based on ferrimagnetic materials, as well as related effects in antiferromagnets.