Oscillations and confluence in three-magnon scattering of ferromagnetic resonance

We have performed a time-resolved and phase-sensitive investigation of three-magnon scattering of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) over several orders of magnitude in excitation power. We observe a regime that hosts transient oscillations of the FMR magnon population, despite higher-order magnon interactions at large powers. Also at high powers, the scattering generates 180∘ phase shifts of the FMR magnons. These phase shifts correspond to reversals in the three-magnon scattering direction, between splitting and confluence. These scattering reversals are most directly observed after removing the microwave excitation, generating coherent oscillations of the FMR magnon population much larger than its steady-state value during the excitation. Our model is in strong agreement with these findings. These findings reveal the transient behavior of this three-magnon scattering process, and the nontrivial interplay between three-magnon scattering and the magnons' phases.