The Ferris ferromagnetic resonance technique: Principles and applications

Measurements of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) are pivotal to modern magnetism and spintronics. Recently, we reported on the Ferris FMR technique, which relies on large-amplitude modulation of the externally applied magnetic field. It was shown to benefit from high sensitivity while being broadband. The Ferris FMR also expanded the resonance linewidth such that the sensitivity to spin currents was enhanced as well. Eventually, the spin Hall angle (θSH) was measurable even in wafer-level measurements that require low current densities to reduce the Joule heating. Despite the various advantages, analysis of the Ferris FMR response is limited to numerical modeling, where the linewidth depends on multiple factors such as the field modulation profile and the magnetization saturation. Here, we describe, in detail, the basic principles of operation of the Ferris FMR and discuss its applicability and engineering considerations. We demonstrated these principles in a measurement of the orbital Hall effect taking place in Cu using an Au layer as the orbital-to-spin current converter. This illustrates the potential of the Ferris FMR for the future development of spintronics technology.