Spin waves (magnons) have been proposed as a basis for spintronic logic devices. A key issue is the large power required to control/write information and power dissipation to operate magnonic devices. To improve efficiency, voltage-driven spin-wave generations from a multiferroic material have been proposed. Here we are aiming to make spin-wave devices with magnetostrictive Fe0.7Ga0.3 thin films, whose inverse magnetostriction is used for magnetization rotation. We are fabricating interdigitated SAW transducers on LiNbO3 substrates. Fe0.7Ga0.3 thin films are sputtered at room temperature. By tuning the electrode spacing, we are able to demonstrate the operation of the SAW devices at different frequencies.

This work is supported by SMART, a center of nCORE, a Semiconductor Research Corporation program, sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.