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Double spin resonance of electrons in snake states

Two-dimensional electron gases (2DEG) located at GaAs/Al0.33Ga0.67As heterojunctions are modulated by a periodic magnetic field generated by a magnetic grating fabricated at the surface of the heterostructure and are irradiated by microwaves. The devices were investigated for the detection of excitations of both paramagnetic and ferromagnetic spins in the magnetoresistance. Electron spin antiresonance was electrically detected, where spin flips are propelled by two transitions: one activated by snake orbit oscillations in the slanted magnetic field, the other by the microwaves. The double resonance forms a dark state which blocks spin flips, decreases Overhauser shift and freezes snake orbit drift, therefore changing the conduction in the 2DEG. The antiresonance is quantitatively described in the coherent population trapping framework. Collective and localised spin wave modes in dysprosium and cobalt gratings were detected as well in the 2DEG. Such effects were investigated as a function of microwave power, temperature, tilt angle of the applied magnetic field, and by varying the structural and material parameters to change the strength of dipolar interactions. The data reveal two types of spin waves. Dipolar magnetisation waves propagate across the grating through the magnetostatic interaction between stripes. An analytical expression of their dispersion curve was derived and a good fit of the ferromagnetic resonance broadening was obtained. The second type are dipolar edge spin waves which manifest through a series of sharp resonances at lower magnetic field. These waves are confined near the pole surfaces in spin wave ”wells”. The eigenfrequencies of the quantised modes were calculated and a qualitative explanation of the low field resonances was obtained. The experiments show that photovoltage measurements in hybrid semiconductor-ferromagnetic structures provide a sensitive and non-invasive tool for probing the spin waves of small magnets

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:538553
Date January 2010
CreatorsSaraiva, Pedro V.
ContributorsNogaret, Alain
PublisherUniversity of Bath
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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