Selective interaction and strong coupling between surface acoustic wave and magnons

Abstract

The coherent interaction between magnons and surface acoustic waves (SAWs) offers a powerful route for controlling magnetic dynamics, benefiting from the short wavelengths, low losses, and high integrability of SAWs in on-chip platforms. This review summarizes recent progress in SAW–magnon coupling, emphasizing selective and strong coupling regimes. Key parameters such as coupling strength and damping are discussed in relation to crystal and device symmetries that dictate magnon–phonon interactions. We highlight strategies for achieving selective coupling through spatial mode control, valley degrees of freedom in phononic superlattices, and symmetry engineering. Advances in device design have enabled the transition from weak to strong coupling, resulting in coherent energy exchange and hybridized magnon–phonon quasiparticles. Finally, emerging directions in nonlinear and non-Hermitian SAW–magnon dynamics, including exceptional points and frequency combs, are outlined as pathways toward next-generation magnonic and quantum information technologies.