Transient ferromagnetic-like state mediating ultrafast reversal of antiferromagnetically coupled spins

I. Radu (), K. Vahaplar, C. Stamm, T. Kachel, N. Pontius, H. A. Dürr, T. A. Ostler, J. Barker, R. F. L. Evans, R. W. Chantrell, A. Tsukamoto, A. Itoh, A. Kirilyuk, Th. Rasing and A. V. Kimel ()
Additional contact information
I. Radu: Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135
K. Vahaplar: Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135
C. Stamm: Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, BESSY II, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15
T. Kachel: Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, BESSY II, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15
N. Pontius: Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, BESSY II, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15
H. A. Dürr: Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, BESSY II, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15
T. A. Ostler: University of York
J. Barker: University of York
R. F. L. Evans: University of York
R. W. Chantrell: University of York
A. Tsukamoto: College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, 7-24-1 Funabashi
A. Itoh: College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, 7-24-1 Funabashi
A. Kirilyuk: Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135
Th. Rasing: Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135
A. V. Kimel: Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135

Nature, 2011, vol. 472, issue 7342, 205-208

Abstract: Ferromagnetic surprise The dynamics of spin ordering in magnetic materials is of interest for both fundamental understanding and progress in information-processing and recording technology. Radu et al. study spin dynamics in a ferrimagnetic gadolinium–iron–cobalt (GdFeCo) alloy that is optically excited at a timescale shorter than the characteristic magnetic exchange interaction between the Gd and Fe spins. Using element-specific X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy, they show that the Gd and Fe spins switch directions at very different timescales. As a consequence, an unexpected transient ferromagnetic state emerges. These surprising observations, supported by simulations, provide a possible new concept of manipulating magnetic order on a timescale of the exchange interaction.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09901

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