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Title: Ultrafast spin exchange-coupling torque via photo-excited charge-transfer processes

Abstract

In this study, optical control of spin is of central importance in the research of ultrafast spintronic devices utilizing spin dynamics at short time scales. Recently developed optical approaches such as ultrafast demagnetization, spin-transfer and spin-orbit torques open new pathways to manipulate spin through its interaction with photon, orbit, charge or phonon. However, these processes are limited by either the long thermal recovery time or the low-temperature requirement. Here we experimentally demonstrate ultrafast coherent spin precession via optical charge-transfer processes in the exchange-coupled Fe/CoO system at room temperature. The efficiency of spin precession excitation is significantly higher and the recovery time of the exchange-coupling torque is much shorter than for the demagnetization procedure, which is desirable for fast switching. The exchange coupling is a key issue in spin valves and tunnelling junctions, and hence our findings will help promote the development of exchange-coupled device concepts for ultrafast coherent spin manipulation.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA (United States)
  2. Fudan Univ., Shanghai (China)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1239320
Grant/Contract Number:  
FG02-04ER46127
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nature Communications
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; physical sciences; condensed matter; optical physics

Citation Formats

Ma, X., Fang, F., Li, Q., Zhu, J., Yang, Y., Wu, Y. Z., Zhao, H. B., and Lüpke, G. Ultrafast spin exchange-coupling torque via photo-excited charge-transfer processes. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1038/ncomms9800.
Ma, X., Fang, F., Li, Q., Zhu, J., Yang, Y., Wu, Y. Z., Zhao, H. B., & Lüpke, G. Ultrafast spin exchange-coupling torque via photo-excited charge-transfer processes. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms9800
Ma, X., Fang, F., Li, Q., Zhu, J., Yang, Y., Wu, Y. Z., Zhao, H. B., and Lüpke, G. 2015. "Ultrafast spin exchange-coupling torque via photo-excited charge-transfer processes". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms9800. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1239320.
@article{osti_1239320,
title = {Ultrafast spin exchange-coupling torque via photo-excited charge-transfer processes},
author = {Ma, X. and Fang, F. and Li, Q. and Zhu, J. and Yang, Y. and Wu, Y. Z. and Zhao, H. B. and Lüpke, G.},
abstractNote = {In this study, optical control of spin is of central importance in the research of ultrafast spintronic devices utilizing spin dynamics at short time scales. Recently developed optical approaches such as ultrafast demagnetization, spin-transfer and spin-orbit torques open new pathways to manipulate spin through its interaction with photon, orbit, charge or phonon. However, these processes are limited by either the long thermal recovery time or the low-temperature requirement. Here we experimentally demonstrate ultrafast coherent spin precession via optical charge-transfer processes in the exchange-coupled Fe/CoO system at room temperature. The efficiency of spin precession excitation is significantly higher and the recovery time of the exchange-coupling torque is much shorter than for the demagnetization procedure, which is desirable for fast switching. The exchange coupling is a key issue in spin valves and tunnelling junctions, and hence our findings will help promote the development of exchange-coupled device concepts for ultrafast coherent spin manipulation.},
doi = {10.1038/ncomms9800},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1239320}, journal = {Nature Communications},
issn = {2041-1723},
number = ,
volume = 6,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

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Cited by: 32 works
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Works referenced in this record:

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journal, May 2005


Laser-induced ultrafast spin reorientation in the antiferromagnet TmFeO3
journal, June 2004


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text, January 2012


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text, January 2012


Laser-induced ultrafast spin reorientation in the antiferromagnet TmFeO3
journal, June 2004


Ultrafast non-thermal control of magnetization by instantaneous photomagnetic pulses
journal, May 2005


Ultrafast magnetization enhancement in metallic multilayers driven by superdiffusive spin current
journal, January 2012


Spin current generated by thermally driven ultrafast demagnetization
journal, July 2014


Works referencing / citing this record:

Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction across an Antiferromagnet-Ferromagnet Interface
journal, July 2017


Antiferromagnetic opto-spintronics
journal, March 2018


Magneto-optical probe of ultrafast spin dynamics in antiferromagnetic CoO thin films
journal, October 2018


Dynamics of Magnetization in Multilayer TbCo / FeCo Structures under the Influence of Femtosecond Optical Excitation
journal, June 2019


Antiferromagnetic opto-spintronics
text, January 2018


Creating zero-field skyrmions in exchange-biased multilayers through X-ray illumination
journal, February 2020


Femtosecond visualization of oxygen vacancies in metal oxides
journal, March 2020