Magnetic Phase Interference in Artificial Magnetic Lattices: Functions and Applications to Optical, High-Frequency, and Spin Wave Devices

The introduction of artificial magnetic structures into magnetic materials can induce novel electromagnetic and spin-wave behavior. Nano- and submicrometer-scale artificial magnetic lattices (AMLs) can control optical (electromagnetic) waves in magnetophotonic crystals [1], volumetric magnetic holograms [2], and labyrinthian magnetic domain structures [3], and can affect spin waves in magnonic crystals [4]. In this talk, the fundamental properties of such AMLs, mainly in magnetic garnet films and alloy thin films, are discussed, followed by demonstrations of their applications in optical and spin-wave micro-devices driven by magnetic phase interference: volumetric magneto-optic (MO) hologram memories [2] and three-dimensional MO holographic displays [5] with magnetophotonic crystals; high-speed MO Q-switch micro-chip lasers with iron-garnet films with labyrinthian magnetic domain structures [3]; and highly sensitive magnetic sensors and spin-wave logic circuits with magnonic crystals [6]. Prospective future spin-wave devices with AMLs will be discussed in the context of the new paradigm of magnonics (electron non-transport electronics), where spin waves play an important role as the information carrier.