Due to the finite aspect ratio of the ferrite, the distribution of the inte
rnal field in small planar microwave ferrite devices is strongly inhomogene
ous. This is a source of additional losses through magnetostatic modes. To
study the magnetostatic modes, the thickness dependence of the ferromagneti
c resonance spectra was measured for a series of 2 mm square single crystal
yttrium-iron-garnet films in the 35 < h < 220 mu m thickness range. The in
-plane resonance field H-r increases with thickness by 150 G, while H-r nor
mal to film plane decreases. The uniform mode linewidth, dH(r) is in the 2-
20 G range. A large number of magnetostatic wave modes modes is excited, co
vering the "full spectral width," DH, increasing with thickness from 400 to
960 G. In a ferrite device DH has to be taken into account, giving rise to
large losses in spite of the small intrinsic linewidth dH(r) of the materi
al. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021- 8979(00)25808-8].