Geometric size effect on the extrinsic Gilbert damping in laterally confined magnetic structures

Abstract

We investigated spin dynamics in micron-length scale patterned thin films using the GPU-based micromagnetic simulation program. Spin precessional motion was induced by a Gaussian-pulse magnetic field. The effective Gilbert damping was examined by tracking the precessional motion of the spins, and we found that the damping constant depends on the size and shape of the pattern as well as the externally applied magnetic field. Additional extrinsic damping generated around the edge region was attributed to the dephasing effect between the fundamental spin wave and other spin wave modes. We find that the effect of extrinsic damping could be eliminated by proper adjustments of sample size, external bias field, position, and area of observation. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.