Spin wave quantization in laterally confined magnetic structures (invited)

An overview of the current status of the study of spin wave excitations in arrays of magnetic dots and wires is given. We describe both the status of theory and recent inelastic light scattering experiments addressing the mos t important issues; the quantization of localized spin waves due to the in- plane confinement of spin waves in elements, dipolar coupling between the q uantized modes, and the localization of the modes within rectangular elemen ts due to an inhomogeneous demagnetizing field. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.