X-ray detected magnetic resonance of YIG thin films in the nonlinear regime of spin waves

We discuss the information content of element/edge resolved X-ray detected magnetic resonance (XDMR) experiments carried out on yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thin films. Starting with a phenomenological approach, it is shown that the photoionisation of deep atomic core levels by circularly polarized X-rays can be used to probe the precession dynamics of spin or orbital magnetization components in empty final states of proper symmetry. Crude estimates of the opening angle of the uniform precession mode were tentatively deduced from the ratio of the XDMR and XMCD absorption cross-sections either at the iron or yttrium absorbing sites. The implications of the most recent experimental results collected at the ESRF are analyzed, keeping in mind that: (i) the Fe K-edge XDMR signal is largely dominated by the precession of orbital magnetization components at the tetrahedral iron sites; (ii) the Y L-edges XDMR signal essentially describes the precession of induced spin magnetization involving the 4 d states of yttrium. In the magnetostatic regime, we produce clear experimental evidence of collective excitations of orbital magnetization waves, especially under high pumping power. Several coupling mechanisms could explain our observations, starting with pseudo-dipolar interactions in ferromagnetic systems. In ferrimagnetic systems in which orbital degeneracy and orbital ordering make the excitation of orbitons possible, one may envisage additional modes of excitation or relaxation of orbital magnetization waves. This interpretation looks fully consistent with the results of band structure calculations carried out recently on YIG with fully relativistic LMTO-LSDA methods.