Spin wave propagation in three-dimensional magnonic crystals and coupled structures

•We showed how the magnetic field of non-uniform waveguide influences for 3D crystals.•Explored conditions for forward and backward spin waves existence in meander profile.•Comparison dispersion patterns for surface and bulk modes in 3D magnonic crystal. We present three-dimensional (3D) model of periodic meander-shaped ferromagnetic films. Spin wave propagation in such films and vertically coupled structures was studied using micromagnetic modeling and theoretical plane wave method. Spin waves in these structures essentially propagate in film’s segments located at right angles with respect to each other. This makes really possible for the wave to propagate in three dimensions. We calculated internal effective magnetic fields and obtained spin wave dispersion in single and vertically coupled structures. Additionally, comparison of surface and volume spin waves propagation in such meander films was provided. Our results can be useful for magnonic logic elements development.