  We study the spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) and the magnon spin transport
(MST) in Pt/Y3Fe5O12(YIG)-based devices with intentionally modified interfaces.
Our measurements show that the surface treatment of the YIG film results in a
slight enhancement of the spin-mixing conductance and an extraordinary increase
in the efficiency of the spin-to-magnon excitations at room temperature. The
surface of the YIG film develops a surface magnetic frustration at low
temperatures, causing a sign change of the SMR and a dramatic suppression of
the MST. Our results evidence that SMR and MST could be used to explore
magnetic properties of surfaces, including those with complex magnetic
textures, and stress the critical importance of the non-magnetic/ferromagnetic
interface properties in the performance of the resulting spintronic devices.

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics