Terahertz oscillation driven by optical spin-orbit torque

Lin Huang, Yanzhang Cao, Hongsong Qiu, Hua Bai, Liyang Liao, Chong Chen, Lei Han, Feng Pan, Biaobing Jin and Cheng Song ()
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Lin Huang: Tsinghua University
Yanzhang Cao: Tsinghua University
Hongsong Qiu: Nanjing University
Hua Bai: Tsinghua University
Liyang Liao: University of Tokyo
Chong Chen: Tsinghua University
Lei Han: Tsinghua University
Feng Pan: Tsinghua University
Biaobing Jin: Nanjing University
Cheng Song: Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Antiferromagnets are promising for nano-scale oscillator in a wide frequency range from gigahertz up to terahertz. Experimentally realizing antiferromagnetic moment oscillation via spin-orbit torque, however, remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the optical spin-orbit torque induced by circularly polarized laser can be used to drive free decaying oscillations with a frequency of 2 THz in metallic antiferromagnetic Mn2Au thin films. Due to the local inversion symmetry breaking of Mn2Au, ultrafast a.c. current is generated via spin-to-charge conversion, which can be detected through free-space terahertz emission. Both antiferromagnetic moments switching experiments and dynamics analyses unravel the antiferromagnetic moments, driven by optical spin-orbit torque, deviate from its equilibrium position, and oscillate back in 5 ps once optical spin-orbit torque is removed. Besides the fundamental significance, our finding opens a new route towards low-dissipation and controllable antiferromagnet-based spin-torque oscillators.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51440-4

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