biostudies-literatureUnknown6Bonetti SSpin waves, the collective excitations of spins, can emerge as nonlinear solitons at the nanoscale when excited by an electrical current from a nanocontact. These solitons are expected to have essentially cylindrical symmetry (that is, s-like), but no direct experimental observation exists to confirm this picture. Using a high-sensitivity time-resolved magnetic X-ray microscopy with 50 ps temporal resolution and 35 nm spatial resolution, we are able to create a real-space spin-wave movie and observe the emergence of a localized soliton with a nodal line, that is, with p-like symmetry. Micromagnetic simulations explain the measurements and reveal that the symmetry of the soliton can be controlled by magnetic fields. Our results broaden the understanding of spin-wave dynamics at the nanoscale, with implications for the design of magnetic nanodevices.Nature communications8889https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4660209biostudies-literatureDirect observation and imaging of a spin-wave soliton with p-like symmetry.PMC4660209Ohldag HDurr HAStohr JKukreja RMacia FHernandez JMFrisch JKatine JMalm GKent ADBackes DChen ZUrazhdin SEklund ABonetti SfalseDirect observation and imaging of a spin-wave soliton with p-like symmetry.Spin waves, the collective excitations of spins, can emerge as nonlinear solitons at the nanoscale when excited by an electrical current from a nanocontact. These solitons are expected to have essentially cylindrical symmetry (that is, s-like), but no direct experimental observation exists to confirm this picture. Using a high-sensitivity time-resolved magnetic X-ray microscopy with 50 ps temporal resolution and 35 nm spatial resolution, we are able to create a real-space spin-wave movie and observe the emergence of a localized soliton with a nodal line, that is, with p-like symmetry. Micromagnetic simulations explain the measurements and reveal that the symmetry of the soliton can be controlled by magnetic fields. Our results broaden the understanding of spin-wave dynamics at the nanoscale, with implications for the design of magnetic nanodevices.2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Nov2025-04-18T13:17:26.994Z2019-03-27T02:02:43ZS-EPMC46602092656769910.1038/ncomms9889