  We investigate optically excited THz standing spin waves in noncollinear
magnetic bilayers. Using femtosecond laser-pulse excitation, a spin current is
generated in the first ferromagnetic (FM) layer, and flows through a conductive
spacer layer to be injected into the second (transverse) FM layer, where it
exerts a spin-transfer torque on the magnetization and excites higher-order
standing spin waves. We show that the noncollinear magnetic bilayer is a
convenient tool that allows easy excitation of THz spin waves, and can be used
to investigate the dispersion and thereby the spin wave stiffness parameter in
the thin-film regime. This is experimentally demonstrated using wedge-shaped Co
and CoB (absorption) layers. Furthermore, the damping of these THz spin waves
is investigated, showing a strong increase of the damping with decreasing
absorption layer thickness, much stronger than expected from interface spin
pumping effects. Additionally, a previously unseen sudden decrease in the
damping for the thinnest films is observed. A model for the additional damping
contribution incorporating both these observations is proposed.
