Low damping (111) oriented lithium aluminum ferrite thin films for spin wave applications

L Lerato Takana (Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University 1 , Stanford, California 94305,) S Sanyum Channa (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University 2 , Stanford, California 94305,) X Xin Yu Zheng (Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University 1 , Stanford, California 94305,) D Daisy O'Mahoney (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University 2 , Stanford, California 94305,) S Sauviz Alaei (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University 2 , Stanford, California 94305,) Y Yuntian Li (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Department of Applied Physics) A Arturas Vailionis (Stanford Nano Shared Facilities, Stanford University 5 , Stanford, California 94305,) P Padraic Shafer (Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 7 , Berkeley, California 94720,) A Alpha T. N'Diaye (Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 7 , Berkeley, California 94720,) C Christoph Klewe (Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) I Ian Fisher (Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University 1 , Stanford, California 94305,) Y Yuri Suzuki

Abstract

Spin wave-based spintronics are an alternative to conventional electronics due to their potential for efficient energy consumption, improved processing speed, and smaller device dimensions. Low damping magnetic insulators provide the medium for efficient propagation of spin waves for information transfer. We have synthesized by pulsed laser deposition epitaxial spinel structure ferrite thin films of Li0.5(Al1.0Fe1.5)O4 (LAFO) on (111)-oriented MgAl2O4 that support isotropic magnon propagation in the film plane. Our ferromagnetic resonance measurements show low magnetic damping with a typical Gilbert damping parameter of α=0.006 and weak-spin–orbit coupling with g = 2.02. These films have low effective magnetization, μo Meff = 20 mT, similar to that of yttrium iron garnet, the gold standard of low loss magnetic insulators. Our findings show that LAFO is a good candidate as a spin wave medium since it can be grown at low temperatures in different crystal orientations.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 3
Published July 21, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

L

Lerato Takana

Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University 1 , Stanford, California 94305,

S

Sanyum Channa

Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University 2 , Stanford, California 94305,

X

Xin Yu Zheng

Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University 1 , Stanford, California 94305,

D

Daisy O'Mahoney

Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University 2 , Stanford, California 94305,

S

Sauviz Alaei

Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University 2 , Stanford, California 94305,

Y

Yuntian Li

Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Department of Applied Physics

A

Arturas Vailionis

Stanford Nano Shared Facilities, Stanford University 5 , Stanford, California 94305,

P

Padraic Shafer

Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 7 , Berkeley, California 94720,

A

Alpha T. N'Diaye

Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 7 , Berkeley, California 94720,

C

Christoph Klewe

Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

I

Ian Fisher

Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University 1 , Stanford, California 94305,

Y

Yuri Suzuki