Low-loss current- and flux quanta-controlled magnonics

The project “Low-loss current- and flux quanta-controlled magnonics” is concerned with experimental and theoretical investigations of the interplay of spin waves and topological defects of the order parameter in ferromagnet/superconductor heterostructures.

Magnonics – the study of spin waves, which are precessional excitations of spins in magnetic materials – is one of the most rapidly developing research fields of modern magnetism. Covering a wide frequency range from sub-GHz to tens of THz and being free from the translational motion of electrons and Joule heating, spin waves are promising candidates for realizing novel, highly efficient wave-based computing concepts. While magnonics has traditionally been a room-temperature research discipline, the current great interest in hybrid systems for quantum computing requires the operation magnonic conduits at low temperatures and in environments of superconducting circuits.

The main objective of the project FluMag is to scrutinize the physics of spin waves in ferromagnet/superconductor heterostructures where the interplay of spin-wave dynamics in a ferromagnet with stray fields produced by eddy currents in a superconductor can be used to explore novel magnonic functionalities in the emerging domain of cryogenic magnonics. We will conceive theoretical foundations of the spin-wave dynamics in ferromagnet/ superconductor hybrid structures and elaborate novel concepts for the excitation, manipulation, and detection of spin waves, which are beyond the reach of traditional magnonic approaches. The focus is pointed towards cryogenic magnonic nano-devices operating preferably in the short-wavelength (exchange) spin-wave regime. Their realization will be underpinned by the fundamental physical phenomena of Meissner screening and by the Cherenkov radiation of magnons originating from moving magnetic flux quanta (Abrikosov vortices). The project results will have impact on the domains of microwave magnetism, superconductivity, and emerging magnon-based quantum technologies.

The three Partner Teams of researchers gathered around this Polish-Austrian-Czech collaborative project constitute a rich panel of complementary expertises with proven track records of excellent scientific research. The Polish Team is led by Jarosław Kłos from the Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, the Austrian Team by Oleksandr Dobrovolskiy from the Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna and the Czech Team by Michal Urbanek from the Central European Institute of Technology, Brno.