Spin textures and spin waves as seen by x-ray microscopy

The investigation of spin-wave phenomena, also referred to as magnonics, plays an important role in present condensed matter research. This holds true, in particular, as spin waves are seen as signal carriers for future spintronic information processing devices, with a high potential to outperform present charge-based technologies in terms of energy efficiency and device miniaturization. Yet a successful implementation of magnonic technology will require the usage and control of spin waves with nanoscale wavelengths. Here, I will show that ferromagnetic spin textures in metallic systems can be used as nanoscale spin-wave emitters and wave guides. In particular, topological spin vortex cores prove to act as efficient and tunable generators for sub-100 nm waves, while domain walls can be utilized as quasi one-dimensional channels for spin-wave propagation and routing. The underlying spin dynamic processes were directly imaged by using time-resolved x-ray microscopy.