Spinwaves in Laterally Confined Magnetic Structures

Abstract

Recent advances in lithograpic patterning techniques have made it possible to produce high-quality arrays of micrometer size magnetic dots and wires, which are considered a prototype of the next generation magnetic memory. This review covers the current understanding of spin-wave excitations in arrays of magnetic dots and wires. Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy as the main tool as well as the current state of theory of laterally confined spinwaves are discussed. The three most important issues are addressed: the modification of dynamic magnetic properties by patterning due to shape anisotropies, the quantization of spinwaves due to their in-plane confinement in dots and wires, and anisotropic magnetic dipolar coupling between magnetic dots.