Spin waves are collective excitations in a magnetic material, where the spins of electrons oscillate in a coordinated manner. These waves can propagate through the material, similar to how sound waves travel through air. They are important in understanding the behavior of magnetic systems and can be influenced by factors like temperature and external magnetic fields. In condensed matter physics, spin waves are often studied in the context of magnons, which are quasiparticles representing these excitations. Researchers explore spin waves for potential applications in spintronics, a field that aims to use electron spin for information processing, offering advantages over traditional electronic devices.