Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) is a powerful technique for studying magnetic microstructures and nanostructures that relies on force detection by a cantilever with a magnetic tip. The detected magnetic tip interactions are used to reconstruct the magnetic structure of the sample surface. Here, we demonstrate a new method using MFM for probing the spatial profile of an operational nanoscale spintronic device, the spin Hall nano-oscillator (SHNO), which generates high-intensity spin wave auto-oscillations enabling novel microwave applications in magnonics and neuromorphic computing. We developed an MFM system by adding a microwave probe station to allow electrical and microwave characterization up to 40 GHz during the MFM process. SHNOs-based on NiFe/Pt bilayers with a specific design compatible with the developed system-were fabricated and scanned using a Co magnetic force microscopy tip with 10 nm spatial MFM resolution, while a DC current sufficient to induce auto-oscillation flowed. Our results show that this developed method provides a promising path for the characterization and nanoscale magnetic field imaging of operational nano-oscillators.

We study mutual synchronization in double nanoconstriction-based spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs) under weak in-plane magnetic fields (mu H-0(IP) = 30-40 mT) and also investigate its angular dependence. We compare SHNOs with different nanoconstriction spacings of 300 and 900 nm. In all devices, mutual synchronization occurs below a certain critical angle, which is higher for the 300 nm spacing than for the 900 nm spacing, reflecting the stronger coupling at shorter distances. Alongside the synchronization, we observe a strong second harmonic consistent with predictions that the synchronization may be mediated by the propagation of second-harmonic spin waves. However, although Brillouin light scattering microscopy confirms the synchronization, it fails to detect any related increase of the second harmonic. Micromagnetic simulations instead explain the angular-dependent synchronization as predominantly due to magnetodipolar coupling between neighboring SHNOs.

The inertial effects of magnetic solitons play a crucial role in their dynamics and stability. Yet governing their inertial effects is a challenge for their use in real devices. Here, we show how to control the inertial effects of magnetic droplet solitons. Magnetic droplets are more strongly nonlinear and localized autosolitons than can form in current-driven nanocontacts. Droplets can be considered as dynamical particles with an effective mass. We show that the dynamical droplet bears a second excitation under its own inertia. These excitations comprise a chiral profile, and appear when the droplet resists the force induced by the Oersted field of the current injected into the nanocontact. We reveal the role of the spin torque on the excitation of these chiral modes and we show how to control these modes using the current and the field.

We present an efficient method to tailor propagating spin waves in quasi-confined systems. We use nanocontact spin-torque nano-oscillators based on NiFe/Cu/Co spin-valves and study the ferromagnetic and spin-wave resonances (FMR and SWR) of both layers. We employ homodyne-detected ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy, resembling spin-torque FMR, to detect the magnetodynamics. The external field is applied in-plane, giving a parallel configuration of the magnetic layers, which do not provide any spin-transfer torque. Instead, the excitation is caused by the Oersted field. By varying the thickness of the bottom Cu electrode (t(Cu)) of the devices, we tune the current distribution in the samples, and thereby the Oersted field, which governs the spin wave characteristics. Both the average k-vector and the bandwidth of the SWR increases as t(Cu) increases.

We experimentally study the auto-oscillating spin-wave modes in Ni(80)Fc(20)/beta-W constriction-based spin Hall nano-oscillators as a function of bias current, strength of the in-plane applied field, and azimuthal field angle in the low-field range of 40-80 mT. We observe two different spin-wave modes: (i) a linearlike mode confined to the internal field minima near the edges of the nanoconstriction, and only weakly dependent on the bias current and the applied-field angle, and (ii) a second, lower-frequency mode with significantly higher threshold current and stronger dependence on both the bias current and the externalfield angle. Micromagnetic modeling qualitatively reproduces the experimental data and reveals that the second mode is a spin-wave bullet and that the spin Hall nano-oscillator mode hops between the two modes, resulting in a substantial increase in linewidths. In contrast to the linearlike mode, the bullet is localized in the middle of the constriction and shrinks with increasing bias current. Using intrinsic frequency doubling at zero field angle, we can reach frequencies above 9 GHz in fields as low as 40 mT, which is important for the development of low-field spintronic oscillators with applications in microwave-signal generation and neuromorphic computing.

Spin-torque and spin Hall nano-oscillators are nanoscale devices (about 100 nm) capable of producing tunable broadband high-frequency microwave signals ranging from 0.1 GHz to over 65 GHz that several research groups trying to reach up to 200 - 300 GHz. Their development is ongoing for applications in high-frequency nanoelectronic devices and systems, such as mobile phones, wireless networks, base stations, vehicle radars, and even medical applications.

This thesis covers a wide range of characterizations of spin-torque and spin Hall nano-oscillator devices that aim to investigate their current and magnetic field dependency, as well as to suggest improvements in these devices to optimize their application in spintronics and magnonics. The work is primarily based on experimental methods for characterizing these devices by building up new measurement systems, but it also includes numerical and micromagnetic simulations.

Experimental techniques: In order to characterize the fabricated nanodevices in a detailed and accurate manner through their electrical and microwave responses, new measurement systems capable of full 3D control over the external magnetic fields will be described. In addition, a new method of probing an operational device using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) will be presented.

Spin-torque nano-oscillators: We will describe remarkable improvements in the performance of spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) that enhance their integration capability with applications in microwave systems. In nanocontact (NC-)STNOs made from a conventional spin-valve stack, though with thicker bottom electrodes, it is found the auto-oscillations can be excited with higher frequencies at lower threshold currents, and with higher output powers. We also find that this idea is useful for tuning spin-wave resonance and also controlling the thermal budget. Furthermore, a detailed study of magnetic droplet solitons and spin-wave dynamics in NC-STNOs will be described. Finally, we demonstrate ultra-high frequency tunability in low-current STNOs based on perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions(p-MTJs).

Spin Hall nano-oscillators: Characterizations of spin Hall nano-oscillator(SHNO) devices based on different structures and materials with both conventional and novel methods will be described. A detailed study of the current, temperature, and magnetic field profiles of nanogap SHNOs will be presented. In addition, we show the current and magnetic field dependence of nanoconstriction-based SHNOs.Moreover, it is shown that multiple SHNOs can be serially synchronized, thereby increasing their output power and enhancing the usage of these devices in applications such as neuromorphic computing. We show synchronization of multiple nanoconstriction SHNOs in the presence of a low in-plane magnetic field. Finally, there is a demonstration of the results of a novel method for probing an operationalSHNO using MFM.

Spinntroniska oscillatorer är ca 100 nm stora nano-komponenter som kan generera avstämningsbara mikrovågssignaler över ett mycket stort frekvensområde. Frekvensområdet sträcker sig i dagsläget från 0,1 GHz till över 65 GHz och flera forskningsgrupper försöker att nå upp till 200-300 GHz. De spinntroniska oscillatorerna baseras på en effekt som kallas spinnvridmoment och de första oscillatorerna kallades därför spinnvridmomentsnano-oscillatorer (eng. spin torque nano-oscillators) som vanligtvis förkortas STNO:er. De senaste åren har man även använt den s.k. spinn-Hall-effekten och oscillatorer baserade på detta förkortas därför SHNO:er. Båda sorternas oscillatorer är under kraftig utveckling för att kunna användas inom olika högfrekvenstillämpningar som t.ex. mobiltelefon, trådlösa nätverk, basstationer, fordonsradar och även medicinska tillämpningar.

Denna avhandling täcker ett brett spektrum av olika mätningar på STNO:er och SHNO:er för att bestämma deras ström- och magnetfältsberoenden samt föreslå förbättringar av deras design för att använda dem inom spinntronik och magnonik. Arbetet bygger i första hand på experimentella metoder för att utveckla nya mätsystem, men det innehåller också numeriska och mikromagnetiska simuleringar.

Experimentella tekniker: För att kunna göra detaljerade och noggranna mätningar, som funktion av ström genom komponenten samt magnetfält runt komponenten, har två nya mätuppställningar utvecklats, båda med målet att enkelt kunna variera styrka och riktning på det magnetiska fältet i tre dimensioner. Dessutom presenteras en ny metod för att studera komponenterna med s.k. magnetkraftsmikroskopi(MFM).

STNO:er: Avhandlingen presenterar väsentliga förbättringar av prestanda hos STNO:er genom att öka tjockleken på det understa metall-lager som hela STNO:n är uppbyggd på. I sådana förbättrade STNO:er kan mikrovågssignaler med högre frekvens, högre uteffekt, och lägre tröskelström realiseras. Dessutom får komponenterna bättre värmeledningsförmåga så att de kan klara högre drivströmmar. Vidare beskrivs en detaljerad studie av magnetdroppsolitoner och spinnvågsdynamik i STNO:er. Slutligen beskrivs en ultrahög frekvensavstämbarhet i STNO:er baserade på magnetiska tunnlingselement med s.k. vinkelrät anisotropi.

SHNO:er: Avhandlingen beskriver också mätningar på SHNO:er baserade på olika strukturer och material, studerade med både konventionella och nya metoder. En detaljerad studie av temperatur och magnetfältsprofiler i s.k. nano-gap SHNO:er presenteras. Dessutom presenterar avhandlingen detaljerade studier av magnetfältsberoendet hos s.k. nano-förträngnings-SHNO:er. Vidare har det visat sig att flera sådana SHNO:er kan synkroniseras seriellt och därigenom få en kraftigt ökad uteffekt. Detta möjliggör i förlängningen också s.k. neuromorfiska beräkningar. Avhandlingen visar att en kedja av sådana SHNO:er också kan synkroniseras även vid låga magnetfält. Slutligen beskrivs de första mätningarna på SHNO:er med hjälp av MFM.

We study the auto-oscillating magnetodynamics in orthogonal spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) as a function of the out-of-plane (OOP) magnetic-field angle. In perpendicular fields and at OOP field angles down to approximately 50°, we observe the nucleation of a droplet. However, for field angles below 50°, experiments indicate that the droplet gives way to propagating spin waves, in agreement with our micromagnetic simulations. Theoretical calculations show that the physical mechanism behind these observations is the sign changing of spin-wave nonlinearity (SWN) by angle. In addition, we show that the presence of a strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy free layer in the system reverses the angular dependence of the SWN and dynamics in STNOs with respect to the known behavior determined for the in-plane magnetic anisotropy free layer. Our results are of fundamental interest in understanding the rich dynamics of nanoscale solitons and spin-wave dynamics in STNOs.

Two-dimensional heterostructures of graphene (Gr) and metal/semiconducting elements convey new direction in electronic devices. They can be useful for spintronics because of small spin orbit interaction of Gr as a non-magnetic metal host with promising electrochemical stability. In this paper, we demonstrate one-step fabrication of magnetic Ni-particles entrapped within Gr-flakes based on simultaneous electrochemical exfoliation/deposition procedure by two-electrode system using platinum as the cathode electrode and a graphite foil as the anode electrode. The final product is an air stable hybrid element including Gr flakes hosting magnetic Ni-nano-crystals showing superparamagnetic-like response and room temperature giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect at small magnetic field range. The GMR effect is originated from spin scattering through ferromagnetic/non-magnetic nature of Ni/Gr heterostructure and interpreted based on a phenomenological spin transport model. Our work benefits from XRD, XPS, Raman, TEM, FTIR and VSM measurements We addressed that how our results can be used for rapid manufacturing of magnetic Gr for low field magneto resistive elements and potential printed spintronic devices.

We present two microwave probe stations with motorized rotary stages for adjusting the magnitude and angle of the applied magnetic field. In the first system, the magnetic field is provided by an electromagnet and can be adjusted from 0 to ~ 1.4 T while its polar angle (θ) can be varied from 0^o to 360^o. In the second system the magnetic field is provided by a Halbach array permanent magnet, which can be rotated and translated to cover the full range of polar (θ) and azimuthal (φ) angles with a tunable field magnitude up to ~ 1 T. Both systems are equipped with microwave probes, bias-Ts, amplifiers, and spectrum analyzers, to allow for microwave characterization up to 40 GHz, as well as software to automatically perform continuous large sets of electrical and microwave measurements.

We present two microwave probe stations with motorized rotary stages for adjusting the magnitude and angle of the applied magnetic field. In the first system, the magnetic field is provided by an electromagnet and can be adjusted from 0 to similar to 1.4 T while its polar angle (theta) can be varied from 0 degrees to 360 degrees. In the second system the magnetic field is provided by a Halbach array permanent magnet, which can be rotated and translated to cover the full range of polar (theta) and azimuthal (phi) angles with a tunable field magnitude up to similar to 1 T. Both systems are equipped with microwave probes, bias-Ts, amplifiers, and spectrum analyzers, to allow for microwave characterization up to 40 GHz, as well as software to automatically perform continuous large sets of electrical and microwave measurements.