Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians provide an alternative perspective on the dynamics of quantum and classical systems coupled non-conservatively to an environment. Once primarily an interest of mathematical physicists, the theory of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians has solidified and expanded to describe various physically observable phenomena in optical, photonic, and condensed matter systems. Self-consistent descriptions of quantum mechanics based on non-Hermitian Hamiltonians have been developed and continue to be refined. In particular, non-Hermitian frameworks to describe magnonic and hybrid magnonic systems have gained popularity and utility in recent years with new insights into the magnon topology, transport properties, and phase transitions coming into view. Magnonic systems are in many ways a natural platform in which to realize non-Hermitian physics because they are always coupled to a surrounding environment and exhibit lossy dynamics. In this Perspective, we review recent progress in non-Hermitian frameworks to describe magnonic and hybrid magnonic systems, such as cavity magnonic systems and magnon–qubit coupling schemes. We discuss progress in understanding the dynamics of inherently lossy magnetic systems as well as systems with gain induced by externally applied spin currents. We enumerate phenomena observed in both purely magnonic and hybrid magnonic systems which can be understood through the lens of non-Hermitian physics, such as PT and anti-PT-symmetry breaking, dynamical magnetic phase transitions, non-Hermitian skin effect, and the realization of exceptional points and surfaces. Finally, we comment on some open problems in the field and discuss areas for further exploration.
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Observation of exceptional points in magnonic parity-time symmetry devices
Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians may still have real eigenvalues, provided that a combined parity-time (ƤƮ) symmetry exists. The prospect of ƤƮ symmetry has been explored in several physical systems such as photonics, acoustics, and electronics. The eigenvalues in these systems undergo a transition from real to complex at exceptional points (EPs), where the ƤƮ symmetry is broken. Here, we demonstrate the existence of EP in magnonic devices composed of two coupled magnets with different magnon losses. The eigenfrequencies and damping rates change from crossing to anti-crossing at the EP when the coupling strength increases. The magnonic dispersion includes a strong “acoustic-like” mode and a weak “optic-like” mode. Moreover, upon microwave radiation, the ƤƮ magnonic devices act as magnon resonant cavity with unique response compared to conventional magnonic systems.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1836989
- PAR ID:
- 10192479
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Science Advances
- Volume:
- 5
- Issue:
- 11
- ISSN:
- 2375-2548
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- eaax9144
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) magnonics has garnered significant research interest because of the unique properties of magnons (quasiparticles of collective spin excitation) for signal processing. In particular, hybrid systems based on YIG magnonics show great promise for quantum information science due to their broad frequency tunability and strong compatibility with other platforms. However, their broad applications have been severely constrained by substantial microwave loss in the gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) substrate at cryogenic temperatures. In this study, we demonstrate that YIG thin films can be spalled from YIG/GGG samples. Our approach is validated by measuring hybrid devices comprising superconducting resonators and spalled YIG films, which exhibit anti-crossing features that indicate strong coupling between magnons and microwave photons. Such new capability of separating YIG thin films from GGG substrates via spalling and the integrated superconductor-YIG devices represent a significant advancement for integrated magnonic devices, paving the way for advanced magnon-based coherent information processing.
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Abstract Hybrid magnonic systems are a newcomer for pursuing coherent information processing owing to their rich quantum engineering functionalities. One prototypical example is hybrid magnonics in antiferromagnets with an easy-plane anisotropy that resembles a quantum-mechanically mixed two-level spin system through the coupling of acoustic and optical magnons. Generally, the coupling between these orthogonal modes is forbidden due to their opposite parity. Here we show that the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya-Interaction (DMI), a chiral antisymmetric interaction that occurs in magnetic systems with low symmetry, can lift this restriction. We report that layered hybrid perovskite antiferromagnets with an interlayer DMI can lead to a strong intrinsic magnon-magnon coupling strength up to 0.24 GHz, which is four times greater than the dissipation rates of the acoustic/optical modes. Our work shows that the DMI in these hybrid antiferromagnets holds promise for leveraging magnon-magnon coupling by harnessing symmetry breaking in a highly tunable, solution-processable layered magnetic platform.
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Hybrid dynamic systems combine advantages from different subsystems for realizing information processing tasks in both classical and quantum domains. However, the lack of controlling knobs in tuning system parameters becomes a severe challenge in developing scalable, versatile hybrid systems for useful applications. Here, we report an on-chip microwave photon–magnon hybrid system where the dissipation rates and the coupling cooperativity can be electrically influenced by the spin Hall effect. Through magnon–photon coupling, the linewidths of the resonator photon mode and the hybridized magnon polariton modes are effectively changed by the spin injection into the magnetic wires from an applied direct current, which exhibit different trends in samples with low and high coupling strengths. Moreover, the linewidth modification by the spin Hall effect shows strong dependence on the detuning of the two subsystems, in contrast to the classical behavior of a standalone magnonic device. Our results point to a direction of realizing tunable, on-chip, scalable magnon-based hybrid dynamic systems, where spintronic effects provide useful control mechanisms.
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Abstract While being electrically insulating, magnetic insulators can behave as good spin conductors by carrying spin current with excited spin waves. So far, magnetic insulators are utilized in multilayer heterostructures for optimizing spin transport or to form magnon spin valves for reaching controls over the spin flow. In these studies, it remains an intensively visited topic as to what the corresponding roles of coherent and incoherent magnons are in the spin transmission. Meanwhile, understanding the underlying mechanism associated with spin transmission in insulators can help to identify new mechanisms that can further improve the spin transport efficiency. Here, by studying spin transport in a magnetic‐metal/magnetic‐insulator/platinum multilayer, it is demonstrated that coherent magnons can transfer spins efficiently above the magnon bandgap of magnetic insulators. Particularly the standing spin‐wave mode can greatly enhance the spin flow by inducing a resonant magnon transmission. Furthermore, within the magnon bandgap, a shutdown of spin transmission due to the blocking of coherent magnons is observed. The demonstrated magnon transmission enhancement and filtering effect provides an efficient method for modulating spin current in magnonic devices.
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax9144
