Microwave signal processing in ferrite films using dipole-exchange spin waves scattered on inhomogeneities

An active nonlinear microwave signal processor based on the excitation and parametric interactions of short and slow dipole-exchange spin waves (DESW) propagating in ferrite (yttrium-iron garnet or YIG) films is proposed and realized. The short-wavelength DESW were excited as a result of scattering of an input long-wavelength dipolar spin wave pulse on defects and inhomogeneities in the YIG film. The best results were achieved in the YIG film sample of the thickness L=7.1 μm, where we obtained signal delay time of T_d= 2.6 μs with insertion losses lower than 20 dB/μs.