Three-dimensional magnonic structures for analog computing: interaction analysis and device development

Polish title: Trójwymiarowe układy magnoniczne do obliczeń analogowych: analiza oddziaływań i opracowanie urządzeń

Grant

National Science Centre, Poland call PRELUDIUM-20

Project no. 2021/41/N/ST3/04478

Starting date: 20.01.2022
Finish date: 19.01.2024

Team

Principal Investigator (PI)
mgr Krzysztof Szulc >>>

Supervisor
prof. dr hab. Maciej Krawczyk >>>

Project description

Electronics has primacy in the field of computing devices. Unfortunately, we are very close to reach the limit of the size of smallest parts of computing devices – transistors, and further development of this field is open to question. The scientists are looking for alternatives which could allow for reaching comparable performances with preserving the perspectives for further development of this field and, at the same time, answering to the huge environmental problem of increasing energy consumption. Magnonics could be the answer to this challenges.

Every electron possesses a magnetic moment called spin which are responsible for the magnetization of matter. In ferromagnetic materials all spins are strongly interacting with each other and are aligned in one direction. When a magnetic moment is deviated from its equilibrium position, it tries to return back to the stable state in a precession motion quite like a toy spinning top. Simultaneously, because of strong interaction, all the neighboring spins are set in motion making a coherent disturbance which disperse as a wave. This disturbance is called spin wave. The research field focused on spin waves and developing spin-wave-based technology is called magnonics. Spin waves are characterized with large frequencies in range from several to several hundred gigahertz and wavelengths from dozens of nanometers to several micrometers. In comparison with electronics and photonics, the nonlinear and anisotropic effects are easily achievable and there also exists the possibility to steer the structure via control of the magnetization. It makes the spin waves ideal for transmission and processing of information in miniaturized devices.

In my project I want to analyze the coupling strength in dependence on the structure geometry, materials used, and also using different interactions which could increase the strength and control of coupling. Also, I plan to use the superconducting materials which, thanks to the ability to reflect the magnetic field, can block the coupling between waveguides as well as increase the spin-wave velocity and, therefore, increase the device speed. Eventually, basing on obtained results, I aim to design the device which can be used in computers basing on spin waves. In order to perform the tasks, I will use the numerical simulations intended for studying the spin-wave dynamics.

This project is a next step to design of magnonic computers which could compete with currently-dominating electronic computers, at the same time offering the solution to problem of increasing energy consumption.

Tasks

I. Optimization of the dipolar interaction between waveguides

II. Amplification of the coupling through short-range interactions

III. Introduction of the superconducting materials to the magnonic system

IV. Development of the magnonic devices for spin-wave computing