Chapter 12
Magnetoelastic Waves in Thin Films
Frederic Vanderveken, Florin Ciubotaru, and Christoph Adelmann
Abstract This chapter discusses the physics of magnetoelasticity and magnetoelastic waves in thin films as well as their mathematical description. Magnetoelastic
waves occur as a result of strong coupling between spin waves and elastic waves
in magnetostrictive ferromagnetic media. In a first part, the basic behavior of spin
waves is reviewed in both bulk ferromagnets as well as in thin films. Next, elastic
waves are discussed with a focus on thin films. Then, the interactions between the
elastic and magnetic domains are described and it is shown how this results in the
formation of magnetoelastic waves. The description and the mathematical formalism
of magnetoelastic waves in infinitesimally thin films is extended to magnetoelastic
waves in thin films with finite thickness. The dispersion relations and eigenstates
are derived and graphically visualised for such magnetoelastic waves. It is shown
that the behavior strongly depends on the geometry of the system, especially on the
polarization of the spin and elastic waves and the direction of the magnetization of
the magnetostrictive ferromagnetic medium.
12.1 Introduction
The coupling between different physical properties of a system is of great interest for transducer elements. In recent years, the field of spintronics, which includes
applications of magnetism and magnetic materials in electronics, has gained enorF. Vanderveken
Departement Materiaalkunde, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
F. Vanderveken (B) · F. Ciubotaru · C. Adelmann
Imec, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
e-mail: Frederic.Vanderveken@imec.be
F. Ciubotaru
e-mail: Florin.Ciubotaru@imec.be
C. Adelmann
e-mail: Christoph.Adelmann@imec.be
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
E. Kamenetskii (ed.), Chirality, Magnetism and Magnetoelectricity,
Topics in Applied Physics 138,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62844-4_12
287
Magnetoelastic Waves in Thin Films
Frederic Vanderveken, Florin Ciubotaru, and Christoph Adelmann
Abstract This chapter discusses the physics of magnetoelasticity and magnetoelastic waves in thin films as well as their mathematical description. Magnetoelastic
waves occur as a result of strong coupling between spin waves and elastic waves
in magnetostrictive ferromagnetic media. In a first part, the basic behavior of spin
waves is reviewed in both bulk ferromagnets as well as in thin films. Next, elastic
waves are discussed with a focus on thin films. Then, the interactions between the
elastic and magnetic domains are described and it is shown how this results in the
formation of magnetoelastic waves. The description and the mathematical formalism
of magnetoelastic waves in infinitesimally thin films is extended to magnetoelastic
waves in thin films with finite thickness. The dispersion relations and eigenstates
are derived and graphically visualised for such magnetoelastic waves. It is shown
that the behavior strongly depends on the geometry of the system, especially on the
polarization of the spin and elastic waves and the direction of the magnetization of
the magnetostrictive ferromagnetic medium.
12.1 Introduction
The coupling between different physical properties of a system is of great interest for transducer elements. In recent years, the field of spintronics, which includes
applications of magnetism and magnetic materials in electronics, has gained enorF. Vanderveken
Departement Materiaalkunde, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
F. Vanderveken (B) · F. Ciubotaru · C. Adelmann
Imec, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
e-mail: Frederic.Vanderveken@imec.be
F. Ciubotaru
e-mail: Florin.Ciubotaru@imec.be
C. Adelmann
e-mail: Christoph.Adelmann@imec.be
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
E. Kamenetskii (ed.), Chirality, Magnetism and Magnetoelectricity,
Topics in Applied Physics 138,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62844-4_12
287