Investigating a Phase Conjugate Mirror for Magnon-Based Computing

This work provides a convincing motivation for and introduction to magnon-based computing. The challenges faced by the conventional semiconductor-transistor-based computing industry are contrasted with the many exciting avenues for developing spin waves (or magnons) as a complementary technology wherein information can be encoded, transmitted, and operated upon: essential ingredients for any computing paradigm.
From this general foundation, one particular operation is examined: phase conjugation via four-wave-mixing (FWM). The author constructs an original theory describing the generation of a phase conjugate mirror with the remarkable property that any incident spin wave will be reflected back along the same direction of travel. After establishing a theoretical framework, the careful design of the experiment is presented, followed by the demonstration of a magnetic phase conjugate mirror using four-wave mixing for the first time.
The thesis concludes with an investigation into the unexpected fractal behaviour observed arising from the phase conjugate mirror - a result that is testament to the richness and vibrancy of these highly nonlinear spin wave systems.

Alistair Inglis began his scientific career studying his undergraduate and masters in Physics at the University of Glasgow. Offering a comprehensive introduction to research, Inglis spent these years working in various labs studying quantum optics and metastable micromagnets in the Kelvin Building, Glasgow; working on the ATLAS project in Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, California; and measuring magnetic tunnel junctions in Diamond Light Source, Harwell. Embracing magnetic devices, he pursued as doctorate in magnon spintronics generally, specialising in phase conjugation and nonlinear processes, in particular four-wave mixing.