Anisotropic Magnon Spin Transport in Ultra-thin Spinel Ferrite Thin Films -- Evidence for Anisotropy in Exchange Stiffness

Abstract

We report measurements of magnon spin transport in a spinel ferrite, magnesium aluminum ferrite $\mathrm{MgA}{\mathrm{l}}_{0.5}\mathrm{F}{\mathrm{e}}_{1.5}{\mathrm{O}}_4$ (MAFO), which has a substantial in-plane four-fold magnetic anisotropy. We observe spin diffusion lengths $>0.8$ $\mu \mathrm{m}$ at room temperature in 6 nm films, with spin diffusion length 30% longer along the easy axes compared to the hard axes. The sign of this difference is opposite to the effects just of anisotropy in the magnetic energy for a uniform magnetic state. We suggest instead that accounting for anisotropy in exchange stiffness is necessary to explain these results.

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