Spin Dynamics across Metallic Layers on the Few-Femtosecond Timescale
We measure the light-driven response of a magnetic multilayer structure made of thin alternating layers of cobalt and platinum at the few-femtosecond timescale. Using attosecond magnetic circular dichroism, we observe how light rearranges the magnetic moment during and after excitation. The results reveal a sub-5 fs spike of magnetization in the platinum layer, which follows the shape of the driving pulse. With the help of time-dependent density functional theory, we interpret the observations as light-driven spin injection across the metallic layers of the structure. The light-triggered spin current is strikingly short, largely outpacing decoherence and dephasing. The findings suggest that the ability of shaping light fields in refined ways could be translated into shaping new forms of spin currents in materials.
Authors
- Katherine Légaré (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1134-9948)
- Alexander Guggenmos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2975-9136)
- Hung-Tzu Chang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7378-8212)
- Bethany R. de Roulet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5186-5256)
- T. Parpiiev
- François Légaré (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3065-7156)
- Michael Zuerch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5151-2119)
- Martin Schultze (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0438-9255)
- Romain Géneaux (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3395-6813)
- Stephen R. Leone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1819-1338)
- Renaud Delaunay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2014-5632)
- J. Lüning (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9627-8095)
- S. Sharma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3446-8341)
- Ilana J. P. Molesky
Institutions
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (DE)
- University of California System (US)
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (CA)
- Graz University of Technology (AT)
- Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST) (MA)
- Max-Born-Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (DE)
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique - Matière et Rayonnement (FR)
- Laboratoire Interactions, Dynamiques et Lasers (FR)
- Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical Review Letters
- Published
- 2024-09-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.133.106902
- Citations
- 10
- Primary Topic
- Magnetic properties of thin films
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.38
Funders
- W. M. Keck Foundation
- Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council