Emission of coherent THz magnons in an antiferromagnetic insulator triggered by ultrafast spin–phonon interactions

E. Rongione, O. Gueckstock, M. Mattern, O. Gomonay, H. Meer, C. Schmitt, R. Ramos, T. Kikkawa, M. Mičica, E. Saitoh, J. Sinova, H. Jaffrès, J. Mangeney, S. T. B. Goennenwein, S. Geprägs, T. Kampfrath, M. Kläui, M. Bargheer, T. S. Seifert (), S. Dhillon and R. Lebrun ()
Additional contact information
E. Rongione: Unité Mixte de Physique, CNRS, Thales, Université Paris-Saclay
O. Gueckstock: Institute of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin
M. Mattern: Institut für Physik und Astronomie, Universität Potsdam
O. Gomonay: Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
H. Meer: Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
C. Schmitt: Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
R. Ramos: Tohoku University
T. Kikkawa: The University of Tokyo
M. Mičica: Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité
E. Saitoh: Tohoku University
J. Sinova: Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
H. Jaffrès: Unité Mixte de Physique, CNRS, Thales, Université Paris-Saclay
J. Mangeney: Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité
S. T. B. Goennenwein: University of Konstanz
S. Geprägs: Walther-Meißner-Institut, Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
T. Kampfrath: Institute of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin
M. Kläui: Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
M. Bargheer: Institut für Physik und Astronomie, Universität Potsdam
T. S. Seifert: Institute of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin
S. Dhillon: Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité
R. Lebrun: Unité Mixte de Physique, CNRS, Thales, Université Paris-Saclay

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Antiferromagnetic materials have been proposed as new types of narrowband THz spintronic devices owing to their ultrafast spin dynamics. Manipulating coherently their spin dynamics, however, remains a key challenge that is envisioned to be accomplished by spin-orbit torques or direct optical excitations. Here, we demonstrate the combined generation of broadband THz (incoherent) magnons and narrowband (coherent) magnons at 1 THz in low damping thin films of NiO/Pt. We evidence, experimentally and through modeling, two excitation processes of spin dynamics in NiO: an off-resonant instantaneous optical spin torque in (111) oriented films and a strain-wave-induced THz torque induced by ultrafast Pt excitation in (001) oriented films. Both phenomena lead to the emission of a THz signal through the inverse spin Hall effect in the adjacent heavy metal layer. We unravel the characteristic timescales of the two excitation processes found to be 300 fs, respectively, and thus open new routes towards the development of fast opto-spintronic devices based on antiferromagnetic materials.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37509-6

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