Microscopic theory of Bose–Einstein condensation of magnons at room temperature

Hayder Salman, Natalia G. Berloff, Sergej O. Demokritov

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

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Abstract

A quantised spin wave – magnon – in magnetic films can undergo Bose- Einstein condensation into two energetically degenerate lowest-energy quan- tum states with non-zero wave vectors ±kBEC. This corresponds to two in- terfering condensates forming spontaneously in momentum space. Brillouin Light Scattering studies for a microwave-pumped film with sub-micrometer spatial resolution experimentally confirm the existence of the two wave- functions and show that their interference results in a non-uniform ground state of the condensate with the density oscillating in space. Moreover, fork dislocations in the density fringes provide direct experimental evidence for the formation of pinned half quantum vortices in the magnon condensate. The measured amplitude of the density oscillation implies the formation of a non-symmetric state that corresponds to non equal occupation of two en- ergy minima. We discuss the experimental findings and consider the theory of magnon condensates which includes, to leading order, the contribution from the non-condensed magnons. The e↵ect of the non-condensed magnon cloud is to increase the contrast of the asymmetric state and to bring about the experimental measurements.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUniversal Themes of Bose-Einstein Condensation
EditorsNikolaos P. Proukakis, David W. Snoke, Peter B. Littlewood
PublisherCambridge University Press
Chapter25
ISBN (Print)9781107085695
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2017

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