1. Magnon Valve Effect between Two Magnetic Insulators
- Author
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Lizhu Huang, Guoqiang Yu, Hao Wu, Hongyuan Wei, Xiufeng Han, Jiafeng Feng, Baishun Yang, Caihua Wan, and Chi Fang
- Subjects
Materials science ,Condensed matter physics ,Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics ,Condensed Matter::Other ,Magnon ,Spin valve ,General Physics and Astronomy ,FOS: Physical sciences ,02 engineering and technology ,Electron ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Thermal conduction ,Condensed Matter::Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall Effect ,01 natural sciences ,Magnetization ,Condensed Matter::Materials Science ,Ferromagnetism ,Hall effect ,0103 physical sciences ,Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) ,Condensed Matter::Strongly Correlated Electrons ,010306 general physics ,0210 nano-technology ,Spin-½ - Abstract
The key physics of the spin valve involves spin-polarized conduction electrons propagating between two magnetic layers such that the device conductance is controlled by the relative magnetization orientation of two magnetic layers. Here, we report the effect of a magnon valve which is made of two ferromagnetic insulators (YIG) separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer (Au). When a thermal gradient is applied perpendicular to the layers, the inverse spin Hall voltage output detected by a Pt bar placed on top of the magnon valve depends on the relative orientation of the magnetization of two YIG layers, indicating the magnon current induced by spin Seebeck effect at one layer affects the magnon current in the other layer separated by Au. We interpret the magnon valve effect by the angular momentum conversion and propagation between magnons in two YIG layers and conduction electrons in the Au layer. The temperature dependence of magnon valve ratio shows approximately a power law, supporting the above magnon-electron spin conversion mechanism. This work opens a new class of valve structures beyond the conventional spin valves., 13 pages, 4 figures
- Published
- 2017