Exchange spin waves in thin films with gradient composition

Abstract

We report on an investigation of magnetic resonance phenomenon in ferromagnetic thin films with controlled nonuniform composition. An epitaxial Pd-Fe thin film with linear distribution of Fe content across the thickness is used as the model material. Anomalous perpendicular standing spin waves are observed and quantified using the collective dynamic equation. Numerical analysis yields the exchange stiffness constant for the diluted Pd-Fe alloy $D=2A/{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}{M}_{s}=15\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{T}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}{\mathrm{nm}}^{2}$ and the ratio of the effective magnetization to the saturation magnetization ${M}_{\text{eff}}/{M}_{s}=1.16$. It is demonstrated that, overall, the engineering of thin films with nonuniform composition across the thickness can be used for high-frequency or low-field magnonic operations using exchange spin waves.