Introduction:
The worldwide increasing demand for fast, powerful and efficient computing and storage capacities is becoming an increasing energy burden in our time. That's why it is highly important for us to focus on reducing the energy consumption in computationally intense tasks and applications. Tasks that yet can be accomplished only with a great deal of energy and computing effort in the field of e.g. machine learning (ML) or artificial intelligence (AI) can be solved extremely efficient with the help of spin-wave-based, i.e. magnonic devices. With the help of hybrid spin-wave-COMS systems, such tasks can be completed in the shortest possible time by making use of advantages of both worlds. While charge-based information processing is a mature yet fast technology, spin-wave-based devices solve computationally intense problems like spectrum analysis or speech recognition by their physical nature while consuming power in the order of nanowatts. However, for the production of prototypes, and thus the combination and integration of charge-based and spin-wave-based individual components, it is essential to focus on the overall efficiency of those systems. Thus, we want to concentrate on the broadband and efficient excitation of spin waves in magnetic thin films in order to contribute to the way to realize hybrid spin-wave-CMOS systems.
Student Tasks / Work Packages:
- Topic familiarization including introduction to measurement tools (mainly VNA and Lock-in amplifier) and study of current publications
- Basic thin film characterization (Meff, alpha) with VNA and Lock-in of homemade YIG films
- Detailed measurements in frequency domain with VNA to quantify impedance matching of electrical circuitry in combination with YIG film. This task contains also modeling and estimation of the spin wave excitation efficiency in terms of power transfer.
- Detailed measurements in time domain with VNA in a time-domain-reflectometry (TDR) like manner. This method offers deep insights to the RF behavior of the combined electric and magnetic circuitry.
- Result of former two tasks: Suggestions for improved electrical excitation and read-out of spin waves with regard to concrete spin wave devices. Suggestions may be supported by analytical models (or in best case with simulations, if time allows)
- Summary of results in form of a research poster
Expected Outcomes:
- In-depth understanding and characterization of material parameters of homemade thin magnetic films for spin wave devices
- Well-founded electrical evaluation of spin wave excitation efficiency as well as the spin-wave-based transmission link for (basic/simple) spin wave devices in frequency and time domain
- Suggestions for improved electrical circuits for concrete spin wave devices. Based on measurements and analytical models
- Clear summary in form of a research poster
