Magnon Switch (IMAGE)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Magnon Switch

Caption

This artist's conception shows the difference between a magnon's "open" and "closed" states. Exciting the magnetic spin (red arrow) of the top electron sends a wave of spin changes traveling downward through the chain, creating a voltage that can be read out at the bottom. At left, the net direction of the spins in the materials YIG and Py (two thick blue layers) point in the same direction (large blue arrows), and the waves remain large through the electron chain, representing an open state. But at right, the net spin in the YIG and Py point in opposite directions, reducing the amplitude of the waves in the YIG and indicating a closed state.

Credit

N. Hanacek / NIST

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