Ferrimagnetic resonance excitation by light-wave mixing in a scanning tunneling microscope

Ferrimagnetic resonance is measured in a scanning tunneling microscope. The infrared light of two lasers is focused into the tunneling junction and a difference-frequency signal in the microwave region is generated. This micr owave signal is used to excite spin waves in an yttrium-iron-garnet film wi th a thin Au capping. The coupling of the light to the tunneling junction i s explained by an antenna mechanism. Characteristic antenna patterns of the angle-dependent receiving efficiency are obtained. The mixing of the two l aser frequencies is due to the nonlinearity of the tunneling junction. The microwave signal obtained is absorbed in the ferromagnetic sample if the re sonance condition is fulfilled. This method might allow the measurement of magnetic properties with a lateral resolution down to the nm scale. (C) 199 9 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)08723-X].