The understanding of how spins move and can be manipulated at pico-and femtosecond time scales is the goal of much of modern research in condensed matter physics, with implications for ultrafast and more energy-efficient data processing and storage applications. However, the limited comprehension of the physics behind this phenomenon has hampered the possibility of realising a commercial technology based on it. Recently, it has been suggested that inertial effects should be considered in the full description of the spin dynamics at these ultrafast time scales, but a clear observation of such effects in ferromagnets is still lacking. Here, we report the first direct experimental evidence of intrinsic inertial spin dynamics in ferromagnetic thin films in the form of a nutation of the magnetisation at a frequency of approximately 0.5 THz. This allows us to reveal that the angular momentum relaxation time in ferromagnets is on the order of 10 ps.

We investigate the shielding effectiveness and complex conductivity of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) distributed in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix in the THz frequency range. SWNTs are dispersed in PVA matrices with varying SWNT content (keeping the thickness of SWNT/PVA film constant) using a slow-drying method, and terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is performed at room temperature in transmission geometry in the frequency range of 0.3-2.1 THz. The transmittance spectra show a possible application of SWNT/PVA composites as low-bandpass filters in the THz frequency region. Shielding effectiveness of all the samples is measured, and, at a particular probing frequency, they tend to follow a linear relationship with SWNT weight fraction in the polymer matrices. THz conductivity of the composite system is described in the light of a.c. hopping conduction.

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We study THz-driven spin dynamics in thin CoPt films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Femtosecond magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements show that demagnetization amplitude of about 1% can be achieved with a peak THz electric field of 300 kV cm −1 , and a corresponding peak magnetic field of 0.1 T. The effect is more than an order of magnitude larger than observed in samples with easy-plane anisotropy irradiated with the same field strength. We also utilize finite-element simulations to design a meta-material structure that can enhance the THz magnetic field by more than an order of magnitude, over an area of several tens of square micrometers. Magnetic fields exceeding 1 Tesla, generated in such meta-materials with the available laser-based THz sources, are expected to produce full magnetization reversal via ultrafast ballistic precession driven by the THz radiation. Our results demonstrate the possibility of table-top ultrafast magnetization reversal induced by THz radiation.

We report the polarizing behavior of aligned Ni nanoparticles (NPs) having average diameter of 165±15 nm in ~210 μm thick polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix in the frequency range of 0.2-1.6 THz. The NPs have been prepared via a wet chemical route and then aligned in PVA film by using an external magnetic field. When the polarization of THz electric field is parallel to the NPs alignment direction, a strong THz absorption is observed whereas a minimum THz absorption is noticed for the corresponding perpendicular configuration. Degree of polarization is calculated to be 0.9±0.08. Considering the good polarizing performance, ease of preparation, durability, and low maintenance, this aligned NP system is a perfect candidate to emerge as a potential THz polarizer.