Competing effects at Pt/YIG interfaces: Spin Hall magnetoresistance, magnon excitations, and magnetic frustration

We study spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) and magnon spin transport (MST) in Pt/Y₃Fe₅O₁₂(YIG)-based devices with intentionally modified interfaces. Our measurements show that the surface treatment of the YIG film results in a slight enhancement of the spin-mixing conductance and an extraordinary increase in the efficiency of the spin-to-magnon conversion at room temperature. The surface of the YIG film develops a surface magnetic frustration at low temperatures, causing a sign change of the SMR and a dramatic suppression of the MST. Our results evidence that SMR and MST could be used to explore magnetic properties of surfaces, including those with complex magnetic textures, and stress the critical importance of the nonmagnetic/ferromagnetic interface properties in the performance of the resulting spintronic devices.