Electrical noise spectroscopy of magnons in a quantum Hall ferromagnet

Abstract: Collective spin-wave excitations-magnons-in a quantum Hall ferromagnet are promising quasi-particles for next-generation spintronics devices, including platforms for information transfer. Detection of these charge-neutral excitations relies on the conversion of magnons into electrical signals in the form of excess electrons and holes, but if these signals are equal the magnon detection remains elusive. In this work, we overcome this shortcoming by measuring the electrical noise generated by magnons. We use the symmetry-broken quantum Hall ferromagnet of the zeroth Landau level in graphene to launch magnons. Absorption of these magnons creates excess noise above the Zeeman energy and remains finite even when the average electrical signal is zero. Moreover, we formulate a theoretical model in which the noise is generated by equilibration (partial or full, depending on the bias voltage) between edge channels and propagating magnons. Our model, which agrees with experimental observations, also allows us to pinpoint the regime of ballistic magnon transport in our device.