Antiferromagnonic spin transport from Y3Fe5O12 into NiO

Phys Rev Lett. 2014 Aug 29;113(9):097202. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.097202. Epub 2014 Aug 29.

Abstract

We observe highly efficient dynamic spin injection from Y3Fe5O12 (YIG) into NiO, an antiferromagnetic (AF) insulator, via strong coupling, and robust spin propagation in NiO up to 100-nm thickness mediated by its AF spin correlations. Strikingly, the insertion of a thin NiO layer between YIG and Pt significantly enhances the spin currents driven into Pt, suggesting exceptionally high spin transfer efficiency at both YIG/NiO and NiO/Pt interfaces. This offers a powerful platform for studying AF spin pumping and AF dynamics as well as for exploration of spin manipulation in tailored structures comprising metallic and insulating ferromagnets, antiferromagnets, and nonmagnetic materials.