Polarization of electromagnetic waves plays an extremely important role in interaction of radiation with matter. In particular, interaction of polarized waves with ordered matter strongly depends on orientation and symmetry of vibrations of chemical bonds in crystals. In quantum technologies, the polarization of photons is considered as a “degree of freedom”, which is one of the main parameters that ensure efficient quantum computing. However, even for visible light, polarization control is in most cases separated from light emission. In this paper, we report on a new type of polarization control, implemented directly in a spintronic terahertz emitter. The principle of control, realized by a weak magnetic field at room temperature, is based on a spin-reorientation transition (SRT) in an intermetallic heterostructure TbCo2/FeCo with uniaxial in-plane magnetic anisotropy. SRT is implemented under magnetic field of variable strength but of a fixed direction, orthogonal to the easy magnetization axis. Variation of the magnetic field strength in the angular (canted) phase of the SRT causes magnetization rotation without changing its magnitude. The charge current excited by the spin-to-charge conversion is orthogonal to the magnetization. As a result, THz polarization rotates synchronously with magnetization when magnetic field strength changes. Importantly, the radiation intensity does not change in this case. Control of polarization by SRT is applicable regardless of the spintronic mechanism of the THz emission, provided that the polarization direction is determined by the magnetic moment orientation. The results obtained open the prospect for the development of the SRT approach for THz emission control.
Intermetallic heterostructures of rare-earth and transition metals exhibit physical properties prospective for various applications. These structures combine giant magnetostriction, controllable magnetic anisotropy, magneto-optical activity and allow spin reorientation transitions (SRT) induced by magnetic field at room temperature. Here, we present the results of a study of spin dynamics induced by ultrafast optical excitation in the $$\hbox {TbCo}_2\hbox {/FeCo}$$ TbCo 2 /FeCo heterostructure. The time dependence of the light polarization rotation excited by a pump optical pulse with a duration of 35 fs was measured in the total range of the SRT created by external DC magnetic field. We found hysteretic dependence of the polarization rotation on magnetizing field that is specific for spin dynamics near SRT. Enhancement of the rotation is observed in the critical points of the SRT and near the points of magnetization switch from metastable to stable spin states. In the time-domain, two characteristic delays of 20 ps and 200 ps were found, corresponding to the maximum deviation of the light polarization after excitation. The first is explained by the precession motion of spins out of the plane of the structure. The latter is accounted for the spin in-plane deviation from its initial position and thermal relaxation of the anisotropy.
The magnetic moment dynamics excited by 35 fs laser pulses in TbCo 2 /FeCo heterostructure is experimentally investigated by pump-probe technique. The studies are carried out in two typical geometries with magnetizing field perpendicular and along to the easy magnetization axis. In the 'easy axis' orientation, high-frequency oscillations of magnetic moments odd with respect to the sign of the magnetizing field are observed using the magneto-optical Kerr effect. In the perpendicular 'hard axis' orientation corresponding to the spin reorientation phase, the experiment shows oscillations that are even with respect to the field. The maximum angle of Kerr rotation as a function of the magnetizing field strength depicts a specific hysteretic loop that reveals ultrafast optical control of uniaxial magnetic anisotropy originally induced during deposition of the heterostructure in a DC magnetic field. The results provide new ways of ultrafast control of magnetic states in exchange coupled intermetallic heterostructures designed for spintronic applications.
The need to study ultrafast processes in magnetism is due to the prospects for creating ultrafast magnetic recording and ultrafast spintronic devices. In order to excite the magnetic subsystem femtosecond optical pulses are used. The excitement is manifested as in spin precession. In metals, the material is heated first due to significant optical absorption, and significant Joule losses occur. The most important task is to search for materials in which spin processes are excited without heating. Obvious candidates are weakly absorbing materials, such as ferrite garnets. However, the range of such materials and the range of their functionality are limited.The purpose of this work is to study the dynamics of systems with nonthermal mechanisms of spin precession excitation. Such excitation is possible in ferromagnetic / antiferromagnetic heterostructures with exchange interaction, provided that the recombination time of photocarriers is shorter than the time of heat diffusion. Multilayer TbCo / FeCo structures of the near IR range were investigated for a femtosecond optical pulse. The spin dynamics are compared with the direction of the wave vector of the exciting pulse along and perpendicular to the axis of easy magnetization of the structures (“easy axis” and “hard axis” geometry, respectively). It is shown that in case of “easy axis” geometry the determinative mechanism is the thermal interaction. When the system is exposed to an excitation pulse, this mechanism leads to a decrease in the projection of magnetization on the direction of propagation of the test beam. In case of “hard axis” geometry, the magnetization turns to the magnetic field at the initial stage. Then it precesses and relaxes to an equilibrium angular orientation. Such dynamics indicate a rapid recovery of the uniaxial anisotropy field after laser irradiation. The presented results demonstrate an ultrafast change in the magnetic anisotropy induced during the fabrication of the heterostructure under study, which may be of interest for optical control of the orientation of the magnetization.
длительность оптического импульса 35 фс, плотность мощности излучения накачки около 50 мДж/см 2 . Показано, что изменение констант магнитокристаллической анизотропии вследствие воздействия на структуру возбуждающим импульсом вызывает долгозатухающую прецессию намагниченности с периодом порядка 200 пс. Получены и проанализированы зависимости амплитуды, фазы и затухания прецессии от величины внешнего магнитного поля в диапазоне до 1.84 кЭ. Изученные процессы могут быть рассмотрены в рамках модели Ландау-Лифшица-Гилберта, и представлять интерес для оптического переключения намагниченности, а также создания различных спинтронных устройств. Показано, что пленки железо-иттриевого граната, легированного кремнием, являются перспективным материалом для магнитных носителей информации на основе сверхбыстрого оптомагнетизма.Ключевые слова: фотоиндуцированная сверхбыстрая динамика, спинтроника, доменная структура, оптическое управление намагниченностью, фемтосекундное лазерное излучение.
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