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Metamaterials are artificially created structures with properties that are not found in nature. They can be tailored to achieve desired response to external excitations such as external electric and magnetic fields, as well as to enhance materials’ optical or magnetic activity. Magnetic metamaterials comprised of arrays of sub-micrometer sized magnetic elements, can be used for a range of different applications, such as magnonic crystals and building blocks for magnetic memory elements.

In this work, pathways for tuning magnetization dynamics are explored. Different magnetic metamaterials containing arrays of sub-micrometer sized elements, refered to as nanomagnets, were used as model systems for these explorations. The nano-magnets comrising these arrays are of two kinds: XY-rotors, with a magnetization direction rotating freely in-plane of a disk, and Ising-like spins, pointing along either of the two allowed magnetization directions. The Ising-like spins can be realized in either in-plane or out-of-plane magnetized materials.

Collective magnetization dynamics were investigated in square arrays of coupled nanomagnets. Studies revealed that nanomagnet’s magnetization state cannot always be approximated by a ridig mesospin approximation. Instead, it was demonstrated that upon an external perturbation, such as an external magnetic or thermal field, internal magnetization experience texture excitations. The observed texture excitations have implications on the nanomagnet coupling in an array.

Arrays, where collective phenomena emerge via excited plasmon resonances, were used for investigations of light-induced dynamics processes. Studies revealed importance of an array design for the observation of magneto-optical activity enhancement and more eÿcient ultrafast magnetization dynamics. It was reported that in arrays containing truncated Au nanocones with TbCo tip, enhancement of TbCo demagnetization can be achieved via resonant light illumination.

Utilizing the array concept and magnetic anisotropy of a material, it is possible to create metamaterials, where a range of magnetization dynamics regimes can be investigated. Inter-element spacing defines on which lengthscale the nanomagnets will be coupled and which effects can be utilized for tuning system’s magneto-optical response and excited magnetization dynamics.