The nano-scale spin torque oscillator (STO) is a compelling device for on-chip, highly tunable microwave frequency signal generation. Currently, one of the most important challenges for the STO is to increase its longer-time frequency stability by decreasing the 1/f frequency noise, but its high level makes even its measurement impossible using the phase noise mode of spectrum analyzers. Here, we present a custom made time-domain measurement system with 150MHz measurement bandwidth making possible the investigation of the variation of the 1/f as well as the white frequency noise in a STO over a large set of operating points covering 18-25GHz. The 1/f level is found to be highly dependent on the oscillation amplitude-frequency non-linearity and the vicinity of unexcited oscillation modes. These findings elucidate the need for a quantitative theoretical treatment of the low-frequency, colored frequency noise in STOs. Based on the results, we suggest that the 1/f frequency noise possibly can be decreased by improving the microstructural quality of the metallic thin films.

We describe the possibility of using nano-contact spin-torque oscillators (NC-STOs) as fundamental magnonic building blocks. NC-STOs can act as spin wave generators, manipulators, and detectors, and can hence realize all the fundamental functions necessary for fully integrated magnonic devices, which can be fabricated using available CMOS compatible large-scale spin-torque device production processes. We show in particular how a 200 nm sized nano-contact located on an out-of-plane magnetized permalloy "free" magnetic layer can generate spin waves at f approximate to 15 GHz that propagate up to 4 mu m away from the nano-contact with wavelength lambda = 200-300 nm, decay length lambda(r) approximate to 2 mu m and group velocities v(g) approximate to 3 mu m/ns. We propose that the same type of NC-STOs can be used as spin wave manipulators, via control of the local Gilbert damping, and as spin wave detector using the spin torque diode effect.

Dissipative solitons have been reported in a wide range of nonlinear systems, but the observation of their magnetic analog has been experimentally challenging. Using spin transfer torque underneath a nanocontact on a magnetic thin film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), we have observed the generation of dissipative magnetic droplet solitons and report on their rich dynamical properties. Micromagnetic simulations identify a wide range of automodulation frequencies, including droplet oscillatory motion, droplet "spinning," and droplet "breather" states. The droplet can be controlled by using both current and magnetic fields and is expected to have applications in spintronics, magnonics, and PMA-based domain-wall devices.

The integrated power and linewidth of a propagating and a self-localized spin-wave mode excited by spin-polarized current in an obliquely magnetized magnetic nanocontact are studied experimentally as functions of the angle theta(e) between the external bias magnetic field and the nanocontact plane. It is found that the power of the propagating mode increases monotonically with theta(e), while the power of the self-localized mode has a broad maximum near theta(e) = 40 degrees and exponentially vanishes near the critical angle theta(e) = 58 degrees, at which the localized mode disappears. The linewidth of the propagating mode in the interval of angles 58 degrees < theta(e) < 90 degrees, where only this mode is excited, is adequately described by the existing theory, while in the angular interval where both modes can exist the observed linewidth of both modes is substantially broadened due to the telegraph switching between the modes. Numerical simulations and an approximate analytical model give a good semiquantitative description of the observed results.

We introduce a new perspective on magnetoplasmonics in nickel nanoferromagnets by exploiting the phase tunability of the optical polarizability due to localized surface plasmons and simultaneous magneto-optical activity. We demonstrate how the concerted action of nanoplasmonics and magnetization can manipulate the sign of rotation of the reflected light's polarization (i.e., to produce Kerr rotation reversal) in ferromagnetic nanomaterials and, further, how this effect can be dynamically controlled and employed to devise conceptually new schemes for biochemosensing.

The current controlled modulation of nanocontact based spin torque oscillator (STO) pairs is studied in both the synchronized and nonsynchronized states. The synchronized state shows a well behaved modulation and demonstrates robust mutual locking even under strong modulation. The power distribution of the modulation sidebands can be quantitatively described by assuming a single oscillator model. However, in the nonsynchronized state, the modulation sidebands are not well described by the model, indicating interactions between the two individual nanocontact STOs. These findings are promising for potential applications requiring the modulation of large synchronized STO arrays.

The fundamental optical properties of pure nickel nanostructures are studied by far-field extinction spectroscopy and optical near-field microscopy, providing direct experimental evidence of the existence of particle plasmon resonances predicted by theory. Experimental and calculated near-field maps allow for unambiguous identification of dipolar plasmon modes. By comparing calculated near-field and far-field spectra, dramatic shifts are found between the near-field and far-field plasmon resonances, which are much stronger than in gold nanoantennas. Based on a simple damped harmonic oscillator model to describe plasmonic resonances, it is possible to explain these shifts as due to plasmon damping.

We study the behavior of the linewidth of a nanocontact based spin torque oscillator (STO) under application of a radio frequency (100 MHz) modulating current. We achieve a significant (up to 85% ) reduction in the STO linewidth when it is modulated across a region of high nonlinearity. The mechanism responsible for the linewidth reduction is the nonlinear frequency shift under the influence of current modulation, which reduces the nonlinear amplification of the linewidth. The reduction in the linewidth during modulation can be quantitatively calculated from the free-running behavior of the STO.

Through detailed experimental studies of the angular dependence of spin wave excitations in nanocontact-based spin-torque oscillators, we demonstrate that two distinct spin wave modes can be excited, with different frequency, threshold currents, and frequency tunability. Using analytical theory and micromagnetic simulations we identify one mode as an exchange-dominated propagating spin wave, and the other as a self-localized nonlinear spin wave bullet. Wavelet-based analysis of the simulations indicates that the apparent simultaneous excitation of both modes results from rapid mode hopping induced by the Oersted field.