Search Results (10)

The fundamental mechanisms of ultrafast demagnetization and magnetization recovery processes in ferromagnetic materials remain incompletely understood. The investigation of different dynamic features which depend on various physical quantities requires a more systematic approach. Here, the femtosecond laser-induced demagnetization and recovery dynamics in L1₀-Fe_0.5Pt_0.5 alloy film are studied by utilizing time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr measurements, focusing on their dependences of excitation fluence and ambient temperature over broad ranges. Ultrafast demagnetization dominated by Elliott-Yafet spin-flip scattering, and two-step magnetization recovery processes are found to be involved in all observations. The fast recovery time corresponding to spin–lattice relaxation is much shorter than that of many ferromagnets and increase with excitation fluence. These can be ascribed to the strong spin–orbit coupling (SOC) demonstrated in FePt and the reduction of transient magnetic anisotropy, respectively. Surprisingly, the demagnetization time exhibits no discernible correlation with ambient temperature. Two competitive factors are proposed to account for this phenomenon. On the other hand, the spin–lattice relaxation accelerates as temperature decreases due to enhanced SOC at lower ambient temperature. A semiquantitative analysis is given to get a visualized understanding. These results offer a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic characteristics of ultrafast demagnetization and recovery processes in iron-based materials with strong SOC, highlighting the potential for regulating the magnetization recovery process through temperature and laser fluence adjustments. Full article

In this article, we investigate optically induced terahertz radiation in ferromagnetic FeCo layers of varying thickness on Si and SiO₂ substrates. Efforts have been made to account for the influence of the substrate on the parameters of the THz radiation generated by the ferromagnetic FeCo film. The study reveals that the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer and the material of the substrate significantly affect the generation efficiency and spectral characteristics of the THz radiation. Our results also emphasize the importance of accounting for the reflection and transmission coefficients of the THz radiation when analyzing the generation process. The observed radiation features correlate with the magneto-dipole mechanism, triggered by the ultrafast demagnetization of the ferromagnetic material. This research contributes to a better understanding of THz radiation generation mechanisms in ferromagnetic films and may be useful for the further development of THz technology applications in the field of spintronics and other related areas. A key discovery of our study is the identification of a nonmonotonic relationship between the radiation amplitude and pump intensity for thin films on semiconductor substrates. This finding is particularly significant considering that thin films are predominantly used in spintronic emitters due to the characteristic absorption of THz radiation in metals. Full article

The role of spin and orbital rotational symmetry on the laser-induced magnetization dynamics of itinerant-electron ferromagnets was theoretically investigated. The ultrafast demagnetization of transition metals is shown to be the direct consequence of the fundamental breaking of these conservation laws in the electronic system, an effect that is inherent to the nature of spin-orbit and electron-lattice interactions. A comprehensive symmetry analysis is complemented by exact numerical calculations of the time evolution of optically excited ferromagnetic ground states in the framework of a many-body electronic Hamiltonian. Thus, quantitative relations are established between the strength of the interactions that break the rotational symmetries and the time scales that are relevant for the magnetization dynamics. Full article

Due to its high sensitivity and because it does not rely on the magneto-optical response, terahertz (THz) emission spectroscopy has been used as a powerful time-resolved tool for investigating ultrafast demagnetization and spin current dynamics in nanometer-thick ferromagnetic (FM)/heavy metal (HM) heterostructures. Here, by changing the order of the conductive HM coating on the FM nanometer film, the dominant electric dipole contribution to the laser-induced THz radiation can be unraveled from the ultrafast magnetic dipole. Furthermore, to take charge equilibration into account, we separate the femtosecond laser-induced spin-to-charge converted current and the instantaneous discharging current within the illuminated area. The THz emission spectroscopy gives us direct information into the coupled spin and charge dynamics during the first moments of the light–matter interaction. Our results also open up new perspectives to manipulate and optimize the ultrafast charge current for promising high-performance and broadband THz radiation. Full article

Superdiffusive spin transport has been proposed as a new mechanism of ultrafast demagnetization in layered magnetic nanostructures and demonstrated experimentally. However, it is unknown if it is possible for phonon transport to occur and manipulate ultrafast demagnetization. Here, we explore the ultrafast dynamics of demagnetization of an antiferromagnet/ferromagnet bilayer nanostructure, of a FeMn/MnGa bilayer film prepared by molecular beam epitaxy. Ultrafast dynamics of a two-step demagnetization were observed through the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. The first-step fast component of the two-step demagnetization occurred within ~200 fs, while the second-step slow component emerged in a few tens of picoseconds. For a single MnGa film, only the ultrafast dynamics of the first-step fast demagnetization were observed, revealing that the second-step slow demagnetization originates from interlayer phonon transport. A four-temperature model considering phonon transport was developed and used to effectively reproduce the observed ultrafast dynamics of two-step demagnetization. Our results reveal the effect of phonon transport on demagnetization for the first time and open up a new route to manipulate ultrafast demagnetization in layered magnetic structures. Full article

Coherent terahertz control of magnetization dynamics is an area of current interest due to its great potential for the realization of magnetization control on ultrafast timescales in commercial devices. Here we report on an experiment realized at the THz beamline of the free electron laser FLASH at DESY which offers a tunable terahertz radiation source and spontaneously synchronized free-electron laser X-ray pulses to resonantly probe the magnetization state of a ferromagnetic film. In this proof-of-principle experiment, we have excited a thin Permalloy film at different THz wavelengths and recorded the induced magnetization dynamics with photons resonantly tuned to the Ni $M_{2,3}$ absorption edge. For THz pump pulses including higher orders of the undulator source we observed demagnetization dynamics, which precise shape depended on the employed fundamental wavelength of the undulator source. Analyzing the shape in detail, we can reconstruct the temporal profile of the electric field of the THz pump pulse. This offers a new method for the realization of an in-situ terahertz beamline diagnostic which will help researchers to adjust the pulse characteristics as needed, for example, for future studies of THz induced coherent control of magnetization dynamics. Full article

In past decades, ultrafast spin dynamics in magnetic systems have been associated with heat deposition from high energy laser pulses, limiting the selective access to spin order. Here, we use a long wavelength terahertz (THz) pump–optical probe setup to measure structural features in the ultrafast time scale. We find that complete demagnetization is possible with <6 THz pulses. This occurs concurrently with longitudinal acoustic phonons and an electronic response. Full article

The vision to manipulate and control magnetism with light is driven on the one hand by fundamental questions of direct and indirect photon-spin interactions, and on the other hand by the necessity to cope with ever growing data volumes, requiring radically new approaches on how to write, read and process information. Here, we present two complementary experimental geometries to access the element-specific magnetization dynamics of complex magnetic systems via ultrafast magneto-optical spectroscopy in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range. First, we employ linearly polarized radiation of a free electron laser facility to demonstrate decoupled dynamics of the two sublattices of an FeGd alloy, a prerequisite for all-optical magnetization switching. Second, we use circularly polarized radiation generated in a laboratory-based high harmonic generation setup to show optical inter-site spin transfer in a CoPt alloy, a mechanism which only very recently has been predicted to mediate ultrafast metamagnetic phase transitions. Full article

Cylindrical magnetic nanowires have been shown to exhibit a vast array of fascinating spin textures, including chiral domains, skyrmion tubes, and topologically protected domain walls that harbor Bloch points. Here, we present a novel methodology that utilizes two-photon lithography in order to realize tailored three-dimensional (3D) porous templates upon prefabricated electrodes. Electrochemical deposition is used to fill these porous templates, and reactive ion etching is used to free the encased magnetic nanowires. The nanowires are found to have a diameter of 420 nm, length of 2.82 μm, and surface roughness of 7.6 nm. Magnetic force microscopy in an externally applied field suggests a complex spiraling magnetization state, which demagnetizes via the production of vortices of alternating chirality. Detailed micro-magnetic simulations confirm such a state and a qualitative agreement is found with respect to the switching of experimental nanowires. Surprisingly, simulations also indicate the presence of a Bloch point as a metastable state during the switching process. Our work provides a new means to realize 3D magnetic nanowires of controlled geometry and calculations suggest a further reduction in diameter to sub-200 nm will be possible, providing access to a regime of ultrafast domain wall motion. Full article

The potential of the two-color mode implemented at the FERMI free-electron laser (FEL) source for pumping and probing selectively different atomic species has been demonstrated by time-resolved scattering experiments with permalloy (FeNi alloy) and NiFe₂O₄ samples. We monitored the ultra-fast demagnetization of Ni induced by the pump FEL pulse, by tuning the linearly-polarized FEL probe pulse to the Ni-3p resonance and measuring the scattered intensity in the transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect geometry. The measurements were performed by varying the intensity of the FEL pump pulse, tuning its wavelength to and off of the Fe-3p resonance, and by spanning the FEL probe pulse delays across the 300–900 fs range. The obtained results have evidenced that for the case of NiFe₂O₄, there is a sensible difference in the magnetic response at the Ni site when the pump pulse causes electronic excitations at the Fe site. Full article