Effect of Electronic Mean Free Path on Spin-Wave Resonance in Ferromagnetic Metals

Abstract

It is suggested that under certain conditions the interpretation of ferromagnetic resonance phenomena in metals should not make use of Ohm's law because the electronic mean free path may not be negligible in comparison to an appropriately defined effective skin depth. Such conditions can exist even at moderately low temperatures provided the equivalent permeability is sufficiently large. The anomalous effects due to the mean free path are shown to be particularly important in spin‐wave resonance, i.e., in a modified ferromagnetic resonance which is appreciably influenced by the exchange interactions existing in the skin depth. A suitable perturbation method is developed for calculating these anomalous effects on the basis of Maxwell's equations and the spin‐wave equation. Using a relation proposed by Reuter and Sondheimer, as imple first‐order result is then obtained for the surface impedance and for the equivalent permeability derived therefrom. The limitations of the underlying physical model are pointed out, and the applicability of the theory to existing experimental results is briefly discussed.