2016/05/30 by Yizhou Liu, Gen Yin, Jiadong Zang +3
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Antiferromagnetism #Condensed matter physics #Josephson effect #Magnetic properties of thin films #Magneto-Optical Properties and Applications #Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Pi Josephson junction #Spin (aerodynamics) #Superconductivity #cond-mat.mes-hall
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.94.094434
published as Phys. Rev. B 94, 094434 (2016)
arxiv created 2016/05/30 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex publication_date 2016/09/26 · arxiv updated 2016/10/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
The spin superfluid analogy can be extended to include Josephson-like oscillations of the spin current. In a system of two antiferromagnetic insulators (AFMIs) separated by a thin metallic spacer, a threshold spin chemical potential established perpendicular to the direction of the N'eel vector field drives terahertz oscillations of the spin current. This spin current also has a nonlinear, time-averaged component which provides a ``smoking gun'' signature of spin superfluidity. The time-averaged spin current can be detected via the inverse spin Hall effect in a metallic spacer with large spin-orbit coupling. The physics illustrated here with AFMIs also applies to easy-plane ferromagnetic insulators. These findings may provide a new approach for experimental verification of spin superfluidity and realization of a terahertz spin oscillator.