Spin wave spectral probing of possible microstates in building-block of macroscopically degenerate artificial spin ice

Abstract

We have investigated the spin wave modes of strongly dipolar coupled, highly anisotropic nanoislands forming square artificial spin ice system using micromagnetic simulation in MUMAX3 in combination with Matlab coding. Artificial spin ice is considered to be formed by the four square ring-type structure of elliptical cross-section nanoislands. Our results state the direct relation between the spin wave modes generated and the micro-states formed in the system. We have shown that single ring type structure can alone be adequately used to understand the spin wave modes of square artificial spin ice.