Gutjahr-Löser, Th., Krieger, W., Walther, H., Kirschner, J.
Ferrimagnetic resonance excitation by light-wave mixing in a scanning tunneling microscope
Journal of Applied Physics 86, pp 6331-6334 (1999)
Ferrimagnetic resonance is measured in a scanning tunneling microscope. The infrared light of two
lasers is focused into the tunneling junction and a difference-frequency signal in the microwave
region is generated. This microwave signal is used to excite spin waves in an yttrium-iron-garnet
film with a thin Au capping. The coupling of the light to the tunneling junction is explained by an
antenna mechanism. Characteristic antenna patterns of the angle-dependent receiving efficiency are
obtained. The mixing of the two laser frequencies is due to the nonlinearity of the tunneling
junction. The microwave signal obtained is absorbed in the ferromagnetic sample if the resonance
condition is fulfilled. This method might allow the measurement of magnetic properties with a
lateral resolution down to the nm scale.