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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik
O 3: Ultrafast Electron and spin dynamics at interfaces I
O 3.9: Talk
Monday, March 12, 2018, 12:30–12:45, MA 005
Ultrafast electron and spin dynamics in antiferromagnetic rare-earth intermetallics — •Y. W. Windsor1, C. Nicholson1, A. Fedorov2, M. Puppin1, K. Kummer3, K. Kliemt4, C. Krellner4, C. Schüßler-Langeheine5, N. Pontius5, U. Staub6, M. Wolf1, R. Ernstorfer1, D. V. Vyalikh7, and L. Rettig1 — 1Fritz-Haber-Institut (DE) — 2IFW Dresden (DE) — 3ESRF (FR) — 4Goethe-Univ. (DE) — 5HZB (DE) — 6PSI (CH) — 7DIPC (ES)
Antiferromagnets (AFM) promise much faster magnetization dynamics than ferromagnets (FM), and so are promising candidates for future ultrafast spintronic applications. Here we study the ultrafast electron and spin dynamics in RE-Rh2Si2 AFMs (RE is a rare earth), which exhibit an intriguing coupling of bulk AFM order to a FM surface evidenced by a spin-split surface state [1].
Using XUV time-resolved ARPES (trARPES) and time-resolved resonant X-ray diffraction (trRXD), we obtain a comprehensive view of the ultrafast demagnetization of the bulk AFM and the FM surface (following optical excitation). We observe similar dynamics for the two orders (bulk AFM order and FM spin split surface state), indicating a strong coupling between the two. Comparison of the demagnetization timescales for different RE ions suggests a strong influence of the 4f L moment and spin-lattice coupling on demagnetization, similar to studies on RE metals [2]. Finally, we observe a coherent rotation of the entire AFM structure, which can be controlled by laser fluence.
[1] Güttler, Sci.Rep. 6, 24254 (2016)
[2] Wietstruck, PRL 106, 127401 (2011)