Quantum mechanical interpretation of the ultrafast all optical spin switching
Abstract
The all-optical spin switching induced by an intense (~TW cm-2), near-infrared (775nm), ultrashort (~100 fs) circularly-polarized laser pulse is studied based on the spin–orbit coupled Heisenberg model. We find that the magnetic spin momentum undergoes an oscillation in time during the interaction with a driving laser pulse, which can be explained as a classical counterpart of the Rabi oscillation associated with a spin–orbit coupling. The optimal spin reversal is achieved by adjusting the pulse duration to one half the Rabi oscillation period. A successive spin reversal by a delayed pulse is possible if it has the opposite helicity and a shorter duration relative to the first pulse. Moreover, inclusion of an exchange interaction term in the Hamiltonian leads to a precession of the magnetic spin momentum that lasts even after the driving laser pulse turns off. This spin precession is stronger in antiferromagnets than ferrimagnets.
- Authors:
-
- Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Indiana State Univ., Terre Haute, IN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1535505
- Grant/Contract Number:
- FG02-06ER46304; AC02-05CH11231
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 29; Journal Issue: 18; Journal ID: ISSN 0953-8984
- Publisher:
- IOP Publishing
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
Citation Formats
Murakami, Mitsuko, Babyak, Zach, Giocolo, Michael, and Zhang, G. P. Quantum mechanical interpretation of the ultrafast all optical spin switching. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1088/1361-648x/aa6558.
Murakami, Mitsuko, Babyak, Zach, Giocolo, Michael, & Zhang, G. P. Quantum mechanical interpretation of the ultrafast all optical spin switching. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648x/aa6558
Murakami, Mitsuko, Babyak, Zach, Giocolo, Michael, and Zhang, G. P. Thu .
"Quantum mechanical interpretation of the ultrafast all optical spin switching". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648x/aa6558. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1535505.
@article{osti_1535505,
title = {Quantum mechanical interpretation of the ultrafast all optical spin switching},
author = {Murakami, Mitsuko and Babyak, Zach and Giocolo, Michael and Zhang, G. P.},
abstractNote = {The all-optical spin switching induced by an intense (~TW cm-2), near-infrared (775nm), ultrashort (~100 fs) circularly-polarized laser pulse is studied based on the spin–orbit coupled Heisenberg model. We find that the magnetic spin momentum undergoes an oscillation in time during the interaction with a driving laser pulse, which can be explained as a classical counterpart of the Rabi oscillation associated with a spin–orbit coupling. The optimal spin reversal is achieved by adjusting the pulse duration to one half the Rabi oscillation period. A successive spin reversal by a delayed pulse is possible if it has the opposite helicity and a shorter duration relative to the first pulse. Moreover, inclusion of an exchange interaction term in the Hamiltonian leads to a precession of the magnetic spin momentum that lasts even after the driving laser pulse turns off. This spin precession is stronger in antiferromagnets than ferrimagnets.},
doi = {10.1088/1361-648x/aa6558},
journal = {Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter},
number = 18,
volume = 29,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Thu Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
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