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Modeling Magnetoelastic Wave Interactions in Magnetic Films and Heterostructures: A finite-difference approach
Authors:
Peter Flauger,
Matthias Küß,
Michael Karl Steinbauer,
Florian Bruckner,
Bernhard Emhofer,
Emeline Nysten,
Matthias Weiß,
Dieter Suess,
Hubert J. Krenner,
Manfred Albrecht,
Claas Abert
Abstract:
The (inverse) magnetostrictive effect in ferromagnets couples the magnetic properties to the mechanical stress, allowing for an interaction between the magnetic and mechanical degrees of freedom. In this work, we present a time-integration scheme for the self-consistent simulation of coupled magnetoelastic dynamics within the framework of finite-difference micromagnetism. The proposed implementati…
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The (inverse) magnetostrictive effect in ferromagnets couples the magnetic properties to the mechanical stress, allowing for an interaction between the magnetic and mechanical degrees of freedom. In this work, we present a time-integration scheme for the self-consistent simulation of coupled magnetoelastic dynamics within the framework of finite-difference micromagnetism. The proposed implementation extends the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation by a strain-induced effective field and concurrently solves the elastic equation of motion, while correctly incorporating stress and strain discontinuities at material interfaces. We then present a comprehensive set of examples, ranging from static stress configurations over material boundaries to simulations of surface acoustic wave attenuation in magnetically structured thin and thick films. These computational experiments both validate the implementation and underscore the importance of properly handling jump and boundary conditions in magnon-phonon interaction studies.
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Submitted 7 September, 2025;
originally announced September 2025.
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Magnetically Programmable Surface Acoustic Wave Filters: Device Concept and Predictive Modeling
Authors:
Michael K. Steinbauer,
Peter Flauger,
Matthias Küß,
Stephan Glamsch,
Emeline D. S. Nysten,
Matthias Weiß,
Dieter Suess,
Hubert J. Krenner,
Manfred Albrecht,
Claas Abert
Abstract:
Filtering surface acoustic wave (SAW) signals of specified frequencies depending on the strength of an external magnetic field in a magnetostrictive material has garnered significant interest due to its potential scientific and industrial applications. Here, we propose a device that achieves selective SAW attenuation by instead programming its internal magnetic state. To this end, we perform micro…
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Filtering surface acoustic wave (SAW) signals of specified frequencies depending on the strength of an external magnetic field in a magnetostrictive material has garnered significant interest due to its potential scientific and industrial applications. Here, we propose a device that achieves selective SAW attenuation by instead programming its internal magnetic state. To this end, we perform micromagnetic simulations for the magnetoelastic interaction of the Rayleigh SAW mode with spin waves (SWs) in exchange-decoupled Co/Ni islets on a piezoelectric LiTaO$_3$ substrate. Due to the islets exhibiting perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, the stray-field interaction between them leads to a shift in the SW dispersion depending on the magnetic alignment of neighboring islets. This significantly changes the efficiency of the magnetoelastic interaction at specified frequencies. We predict changes in SAW transmission of 28.9 dB/mm at 3.8 GHz depending on the state of the device. For the efficient simulation of the device, we extend a prior energy conservation argument based on analytical solutions of the SW to finite-difference numerical calculations, enabling the modeling of arbitrary magnetization patterns like the proposed islet-based design.
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Submitted 31 July, 2025;
originally announced July 2025.
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Heterogeneous integration of superconducting thin films and epitaxial semiconductor heterostructures with Lithium Niobate
Authors:
Michelle Lienhart,
Michael Choquer,
Emeline D. S. Nysten,
Matthias Weiß,
Kai Müller,
Jonathan J. Finley,
Galan Moody,
Hubert J. Krenner
Abstract:
We report on scalable heterointegration of superconducting electrodes and epitaxial semiconductor quantum dots on strong piezoelectric and optically nonlinear lithium niobate. The implemented processes combine the sputter-deposited thin film superconductor niobium nitride and III-V compound semiconductor membranes onto the host substrate. The superconducting thin film is employed as a zero-resisti…
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We report on scalable heterointegration of superconducting electrodes and epitaxial semiconductor quantum dots on strong piezoelectric and optically nonlinear lithium niobate. The implemented processes combine the sputter-deposited thin film superconductor niobium nitride and III-V compound semiconductor membranes onto the host substrate. The superconducting thin film is employed as a zero-resistivity electrode material for a surface acoustic wave resonator with internal quality factors $Q \approx 17000$ representing a three-fold enhancement compared to identical devices with normal conducting electrodes. Superconducting operation of $\approx 400\,\mathrm{MHz}$ resonators is achieved to temperatures $T>7\,\mathrm{K}$ and electrical radio frequency powers $P_{\mathrm{rf}}>+9\,\mathrm{dBm}$. Heterogeneously integrated single quantum dots couple to the resonant phononic field of the surface acoustic wave resonator operated in the superconducting regime. Position and frequency selective coupling mediated by deformation potential coupling is validated using time-integrated and time-resolved optical spectroscopy. Furthermore, acoustoelectric charge state control is achieved in a modified device geometry harnessing large piezoelectric fields inside the resonator. The hybrid quantum dot - surface acoustic wave resonator can be scaled to higher operation frequencies and smaller mode volumes for quantum phase modulation and transduction between photons and phonons via the quantum dot. Finally, the employed materials allow for the realization of other types of optoelectronic devices, including superconducting single photon detectors and integrated photonic and phononic circuits.
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Submitted 30 April, 2023; v1 submitted 6 February, 2023;
originally announced February 2023.
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On-chip generation and dynamic piezo-optomechanical rotation of single photons
Authors:
Dominik D. Bühler,
Matthias Weiß,
Antonio Crespo-Poveda,
Emeline D. S. Nysten,
Jonathan J. Finley,
Kai Müller,
Paulo V. Santos,
Mauricio M. de Lima Jr.,
Hubert J. Krenner
Abstract:
Integrated photonic circuits are key components for photonic quantum technologies and for the implementation of chip-based quantum devices. Future applications demand flexible architectures to overcome common limitations of many current devices, for instance the lack of tuneabilty or built-in quantum light sources. Here, we report on a dynamically reconfigurable integrated photonic circuit compris…
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Integrated photonic circuits are key components for photonic quantum technologies and for the implementation of chip-based quantum devices. Future applications demand flexible architectures to overcome common limitations of many current devices, for instance the lack of tuneabilty or built-in quantum light sources. Here, we report on a dynamically reconfigurable integrated photonic circuit comprising integrated quantum dots (QDs), a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducers directly fabricated on a monolithic semiconductor platform. We demonstrate on-chip single photon generation by the QD and its sub-nanosecond dynamic on-chip control. Two independently applied SAWs piezo-optomechanically rotate the single photon in the MZI or spectrally modulate the QD emission wavelength. In the MZI, SAWs imprint a time-dependent optical phase and modulate the qubit rotation to the output superposition state. This enables dynamic single photon routing with frequencies exceeding one gigahertz. Finally, the combination of the dynamic single photon control and spectral tuning of the QD realizes wavelength multiplexing of the input photon state and demultiplexing it at the output. Our approach is scalable to multi-component integrated quantum photonic circuits and is compatible with hybrid photonic architectures and other key components for instance photonic resonators or on-chip detectors.
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Submitted 16 August, 2022; v1 submitted 21 February, 2022;
originally announced February 2022.
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A Hybrid (Al)GaAs-LiNbO$_3$ Surface Acoustic Wave Resonator for Cavity Quantum Dot Optomechanics
Authors:
Emeline D. S. Nysten,
Armando Rastelli,
Hubert J. Krenner
Abstract:
A hybrid device comprising a (Al)GaAs quantum dot heterostructure and a LiNbO$_3$ surface acoustic wave resonator is fabricated by heterointegration. High acoustic quality factors $Q>4000$ are demonstrated for an operation frequency $f\approx 300$ MHz. The measured large quality factor-frequency products $Q\times f>10^{12}$ ensures the suppression of decoherence due to thermal noise for temperatur…
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A hybrid device comprising a (Al)GaAs quantum dot heterostructure and a LiNbO$_3$ surface acoustic wave resonator is fabricated by heterointegration. High acoustic quality factors $Q>4000$ are demonstrated for an operation frequency $f\approx 300$ MHz. The measured large quality factor-frequency products $Q\times f>10^{12}$ ensures the suppression of decoherence due to thermal noise for temperatures exceeding $T>50\,\mathrm{K}$. Frequency and position dependent optomechanical coupling of single quantum dots and the resonator modes is observed.
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Submitted 30 September, 2020; v1 submitted 21 July, 2020;
originally announced July 2020.
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Quantum dot optomechanics in suspended nanophononic strings
Authors:
Anja Vogele,
Maximilian M. Sonner,
Benjamin Mayer,
Xueyong Yuan,
Matthias Weiß,
Emeline D. S. Nysten,
Saimon F. Covre da Silva,
Armando Rastelli,
Hubert J. Krenner
Abstract:
The optomechanical coupling of quantum dots and flexural mechanical modes is studied in suspended nanophononic strings. The investigated devices are designed and monolithically fabricated on an (Al)GaAs heterostructure. Radio frequency elastic waves with frequencies ranging between $f$=250 MHz to 400 MHz are generated as Rayleigh surface acoustic waves on the unpatterned substrate and injected as…
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The optomechanical coupling of quantum dots and flexural mechanical modes is studied in suspended nanophononic strings. The investigated devices are designed and monolithically fabricated on an (Al)GaAs heterostructure. Radio frequency elastic waves with frequencies ranging between $f$=250 MHz to 400 MHz are generated as Rayleigh surface acoustic waves on the unpatterned substrate and injected as Lamb waves in the nanophononic string. Quantum dots inside the nanophononic string exhibit a 15-fold enhanced optomechanical modulation compared to those dynamically strained by the Rayleigh surface acoustic wave. Detailed finite element simulations of the phononic mode spectrum of the nanophononic string confirm, that the observed modulation arises from valence band deformation potential coupling via shear strain. The corresponding optomechanical coupling parameter is quantified to $0.15 \mathrm{meV nm^{-1}}$. This value exceeds that reported for vibrating nanorods by approximately one order of magnitude at 100 times higher frequencies. Using this value, a derive vertical displacements in the range of 10 nm is deduced from the experimentally observed modulation. The results represent an important step towards the creation of large scale optomechanical circuits interfacing single optically active quantum dots with optical and mechanical waves.
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Submitted 23 August, 2019;
originally announced August 2019.
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Multi-harmonic Quantum Dot Optomechanics in fused LiNbO$_3$-(Al)GaAs hybrids
Authors:
Emeline D. S. Nysten,
Yong Heng Huo,
Hailong Yu,
Guo Feng Song,
Armando Rastelli,
Hubert J. Krenner
Abstract:
We fabricated an acousto-optic semiconductor hybrid device for strong optomechanical coupling of individual quantum emitters and a surface acoustic wave. Our device comprises a surface acoustic wave chip made from highly piezoelectric LiNbO$_3$ and a GaAs-based semiconductor membrane with an embedded layer of quantum dots. Employing multi-harmonic transducers, we generated sound waves on LiNbO…
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We fabricated an acousto-optic semiconductor hybrid device for strong optomechanical coupling of individual quantum emitters and a surface acoustic wave. Our device comprises a surface acoustic wave chip made from highly piezoelectric LiNbO$_3$ and a GaAs-based semiconductor membrane with an embedded layer of quantum dots. Employing multi-harmonic transducers, we generated sound waves on LiNbO$_3$ over a wide range of radio frequencies. We monitored their coupling to and propagation across the semiconductor membrane both in the electrical and optical domain. We demonstrate enhanced optomechanical tuning of the embedded quantum dots with increasing frequencies. This effect was verified by finite element modelling of our device geometry and attributed to an increased localization of the acoustic field within the semiconductor membrane. For moderately high acoustic frequencies, our simulations predict strong optomechanical coupling making our hybrid device ideally suited for applications in semiconductor based quantum acoustics.
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Submitted 1 August, 2017; v1 submitted 28 May, 2017;
originally announced May 2017.