biostudies-literatureSchlitz RSwiss National Science FoundationDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)8472https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12474986biostudies-literatureUnknown16(1)The ability to manipulate magnons using electronic currents holds transformative potential for high-frequency signal processing architectures based on insulating magnetic materials. A critical challenge, however, lies in achieving efficient magnon emission and amplification through damping compensation, which typically requires ultra-thin films. In this study, we break this limitation by demonstrating a three-order-of-magnitude increase in magnon population, consistent with the onset of auto-oscillations upon reaching damping compensation, by injecting a spin current from a μm-wide Pt wire into a continuous 150 nm-thick yttrium iron garnet film. Using nonlocal magnon transport and Brillouin light scattering, we reveal that damping compensation occurs due to magnon self-localization beneathNature communicationsAuto-oscillations and directional magnon emission induced by spin current injection into large magnetic volumes.PMC12474986200020200020 200465425217212200465529812702Gambardella PDemidov VESchlitz RLammel MDemokritov SOfalseAuto-oscillations and directional magnon emission induced by spin current injection into large magnetic volumes.The ability to manipulate magnons using electronic currents holds transformative potential for high-frequency signal processing architectures based on insulating magnetic materials. A critical challenge, however, lies in achieving efficient magnon emission and amplification through damping compensation, which typically requires ultra-thin films. In this study, we break this limitation by demonstrating a three-order-of-magnitude increase in magnon population, consistent with the onset of auto-oscillations upon reaching damping compensation, by injecting a spin current from a μm-wide Pt wire into a continuous 150 nm-thick yttrium iron garnet film. Using nonlocal magnon transport and Brillouin light scattering, we reveal that damping compensation occurs due to magnon self-localization beneath2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-06-03T22:46:36.314Z2026-05-02T03:11:35.161ZS-EPMC124749864100627610.1038/s41467-025-63350-0