Manipulation of coupling and magnon transport in magnetic metal-insulator hybrid structures

Magnonic devices are important for implementing next-generation spintronics, but the adoption of such technology has long been stymied by the difficulty of integrating high-quality magnetic insulators with silicon. This study shows that highly effective magnonic spin valves can be realized at room temperature in Pt/YIG/permalloy hybrid structures grown on Si. In fact, a pronounced antiferromagnetic coupling between YIG and permalloy associated with growth on Si is the property that enables the spin valve's functionality. Since these are two critical materials for spin-wave devices, this form of interfacial coupling between them is of great importance to spintronics.