Low loss magnetostatic surface waves at frequencies up to 15 GHz

The attenuation of MSSWs versus frequency from 4 to 15 GHz and the effect of surface polish upon that attenuation is reported. Previous workers reported the observation of MSSWs on thick slabs of YIG at frequencies below 4 GHz and on thin films below 3 GHz. For the thin films and most slabs the losses were ∼ 100 dB/μs; in one case lower losses (54 dB/μs) in slabs at 4 GHz were obtained by chemically polishing the surfaces with hot phosphoric acid. We have employed a simpler technique which results in lower losses and allows 15 GHz MSSWs to be easily observed. We find that half of the observed loss is due to scattering from potentially removable volume pits.