Spatially resolved detection of complex ferromagnetic dynamics using optically detected nitrogen-vacancy spins

We demonstrate optical detection of a broad spectrum of ferromagnetic excitations using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in an ensemble of nanodiamonds. Our recently developed approach exploits a straightforward CW detection scheme using readily available diamond detectors, making it easily implementable. The NV center is a local detector, giving the technique spatial resolution, which here is defined by our laser spot, but in principle can be extended far into the nanoscale. Among the excitations, we observe the propagating dipolar and dipolar-exchange spinwaves, as well as dynamics associated with the multi-domain state of the ferromagnet at low fields. These results offer an approach, distinct from commonly used optically detected magnetic resonance techniques, for spatially resolved spectroscopic study of magnetization dynamics at the nanoscale.