Fachgruppe Nanostrukturierte Materialien    

We have investigated the unidirectional spin wave heat conveyer effect in a 200?nm thin yttrium iron garnet (YIG) film using lock-in thermography (LIT). This originates from the non-reciprocal propagation of magnons, which leads to an asymmetric heat transport. To excite the spin waves we use two different respective antenna geometries: a coplanar waveguide (CPW) or a 'microstrip'-like antenna on top of the YIG. By using the CPW and comparing the results for the Damon–Eshbach and the backward volume modes we are able to show that the origin of the asymmetric heat profile are indeed the non-reciprocal spin waves. Using the 'microstrip'-like geometry we can confirm these results and we can even observe a distinct excitation profile along the antenna due to small field inhomogeneities.