Microwave Magnetic Envelope Solitons in Thin Ferrite Films

Abstract

Research on microwave magnetic envelope (MME) solitons in thin yttrium iron garnet films has revealed important new physics about this important class of nonlinear wave packet excitations. Soliton pulse energy measurements and energy decay have been used to understand the special decay properties for these solitons. The phase profiles of the pulses provide for positive identification of solitons. Threshold power measurements vs. input pulse width yield the soliton order. The soliton velocity is also power dependent, with characteristic plateaus which also relate to soliton order. These MME solitons may be modeled accurately through the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, provided care is taken to use accurate film and excitation parameters and take into account the frequency filtering inherent in the magnetostatic waves which make up the solitons. Special techniques have also been used to observe soliton collisions, generate decay free trains of solitons, and amplify solitons.