Parametric spin wave excitation and cascaded processes during switching in thin films

Abstract

A theory for calculating the threshold precession angles required to parametrically excite spin waves during large-angle switching of in-plane magnetized films is presented. Analytic expressions for the parametric thresholds are found for finite thickness films when due to three- and four-wave decays. Precession at the threshold angle will produce appreciable spin wave amplitudes only after infinite time. We show that much larger angles are required to experimentally observe nonlinearities within a finite time. This may explain apparent discrepancies reported between ultrafast pulsed reversal and longer time scale high-power ferromagnetic resonance experiments. A comparison of our results to published experimental data for metallic Permalloy films is made. Finally, the film thickness dependence of the threshold is examined and a minimum is found corresponding to when a particular "cascaded" spin wave interaction is resonant. © 2007 The American Physical Society.