Resonant and Off-Resonant Magnetoacoustic Waves in Epitaxial Fe3Si /Ga As Hybrid Structures

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) provide an efficient dynamical coupling between strain and magnetization in micro- and nanometric systems. Using a hybrid device composed of a piezoelectric, GaAs, and a ferromagnetic Heusler alloy thin film, Fe₃Si , we are able to quantify the amplitude of magnetoacoustic waves generated with SAWs via magnetic imaging in an x-ray photoelectron microscope. The cubic anisotropy of the sample, together with a low damping coefficient, allows for the observation of resonant and nonresonant magnetoelastic coupling. Additionally, via micromagnetic simulation, we verify the experimental behavior and quantify the magnetoelastic shear strain component in Fe₃Si , which appears to be large (b₂=10 ±4 MJm⁻³).