Spin-orbit enhanced demagnetization rate in Co/Pt-multilayers

Journal Article · Mon Nov 17 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4902069· OSTI ID:22392018

Kuiper, K. C.; Schellekens, A. J.; Koopmans, B. ^[1]; Roth, T.; Schmitt, O.; Cinchetti, M.; Aeschlimann, M. ^[2]

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1. Department of Applied Physics, Center for NanoMaterials, Eindhoven University of Technology, P. O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven (Netherlands)
2. Department of Physics and Research Center OPTIMAS, University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schrödinger-Strasse 46, 67663 Kaiserslautern (Germany)

In order to explore the role of enhanced spin-orbit interactions on the laser-induced ultrafast magnetization dynamics, we performed a comparative study on cobalt thin films and Co/Pt multilayers. We show that the presence of the Co/Pt interfaces gives rise to a three-fold faster demagnetization upon femtosecond laser heating. Experimental data for a wide range of laser fluences are analyzed using the Microscopic 3-Temperature Model. We find that the Elliott-Yafet spin-flip scattering in the multilayer structure is increased by at least a factor of four with respect to the elementary Co film.

• OSTI ID: 22392018
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 105, Issue 20; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COBALT
DEMAGNETIZATION
LASER-RADIATION HEATING
LAYERS
L-S COUPLING
MAGNETIZATION
PLATINUM
SPIN FLIP
THIN FILMS