Refractive index and Snell's Law for Dipolar-Exchange Spin-Waves in a Confined Planar Structure

Abstract

We derived the analytical forms of refractive index and Snell law for dipolar-exchange spin waves of reflection and refraction at a magnetically heterogeneous interface in a geometrically confined planer structure composed of different magnetic thin films from a microscopic scattering approach. A novel behavior, the optical total reflection, was demonstrated for spin waves with a specific interface between Yttrium iron garnet (Y3Fe5O12) and Permalloy (Ni80Fe20), by analytical and micromagnetic numerical calculations.