Selection Rules for All-Optical Magnetic Recording in Iron Garnet

Finding an electronic transition a subtle excitation of which can launch dramatic changes of electric, optical or magnetic properties of media is one of the long-standing dreams in the field of photo-induced phase transitions [1-5]. Therefore the discovery of the magnetization switching only by a femtosecond laser pulse [6-10] triggered intense discussions about mechanisms responsible for these laser-induced changes. Here we report the experimentally revealed selection rules on polarization and wavelengths of ultrafast photo-magnetic recording in Co-doped garnet film and identify the workspace of the parameters (magnetic damping, wavelength and polarization of light) allowing this effect. The all-optical magnetic switching under both single pulse and multiple-pulse sequences can be achieved at room temperature, in narrow spectral ranges with light polarized either along or crystallographic axes of the garnet. The revealed selection rules indicate that the excitations responsible for the coupling of light to spins are d-electron transitions in octahedral and tetrahedral Co-sublattices, respectively

Coherent control of photomagnetic back-switching by double-pump laser pulses

The control of nonthermal, all-optical magnetization switching under the regime with an independent state of laser polarization opens up new opportunities for ultrafast magnetic recording. Here, we investigate the photo-magnetic back-switching capabilities of the write and erase magnetic domain pattern using double-pump pulse excitations in an iron garnet film with pure cubic magnetocrystalline symmetry. It is essential to note that forward and backward magnetization switching is achievable in two distinctive scenarios: using identical linearly polarized laser pulses and with pulses having orthogonal polarization planes. By observing the switch of magnetization at domains independent of the initial state, one can nonthermally toggle the magnetization, equivalent to XOR logical operation, at frequencies reaching up to 50 GHz

Nonlinear sub-switching regime of magnetization dynamics in photo-magnetic garnets

We analyze, both experimentally and numerically, the nonlinear regime of the photo-induced coherent magnetization dynamics in cobalt-doped yttrium iron garnet films. Photo-magnetic excitation with femtosecond laser pulses reveals a strongly nonlinear response of the spin subsystem with a significant increase of the effective Gilbert damping. By varying both laser fluence and the external magnetic field, we show that this nonlinearity originates in the anharmonicity of the magnetic energy landscape. We numerically map the parameter workspace for the nonlinear photo-induced spin dynamics below the photo-magnetic switching threshold. Corroborated by numerical simulations of the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation, our results highlight the key role of the cubic symmetry of the magnetic subsystem in reaching the nonlinear spin precession regime. These findings expand the fundamental understanding of laser-induced nonlinear spin dynamics as well as facilitate the development of applied photo-magnetism

Phonon-induced magnetization dynamics in Co-doped iron garnets

The developing field of strain-induced magnetization dynamics offers a promising path toward efficiently controlling spins and phase transitions. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is crucial in finding the optimal parameters supporting the phononic switching of magnetization. Here, we present an experimental and numerical study of time-resolved magnetization dynamics driven by the resonant excitation of an optical phonon mode in iron garnets. Upon pumping the latter with an infrared pulse obtained from a free-electron laser, we observe spatially-varying magnetization precession, with its phase depending on the direction of an external magnetic field. Our micromagnetic simulations effectively describe the magnetization precession and switching in terms of laser-induced changes in the crystal's magneto-elastic energy

Photoinduced magnetic linear dichroism in a YIG:Co film

The spectra of linear dichroism induced by magnetic field are observed in a cobalt-doped yttrium iron garnet (YIG:Co) film grown in the (001) plane. The linear dichroism spectra are highly sensitive to the orientation of the magnetic field. The spectrum measured with the magnetic field directed along the crystallographic axis [100] turned out to have a form identical to the spectrum of the "rigid" photoinduced linear dichroism, known from earlier experiments. The similarity of these spectra may be regarded a sevidence of the magnetic origin of the major part of the optical anisotropy induced by light with polarization E | | [100] in the nonmagnetized YIG:Co film

Magnetic properties of ultrathin Co(0001) films on vicinal Si(111) substrate

In the present work we report on magnetization reversal process, anisotropy and domain structures in ultrathin Au/Co(0001)/Au films deposited on vicinal Si(111) substrates. The measurements were performed using a magneto-optical Kerr effect based magnetometer, a polarizing optical microscope and a ferromagnetic resonance spectrometer. Co thickness induced spin-reorientation from out-of-plane into in-plane magnetization was studied. Changes of in-plane magnetic anisotropy symmetry were deduced from shapes of magneto-optical hysteresis loops and from analysis of angular dependences of the resonance field. The experimental data have been discussed taking into account both uniaxial out-of-plane anisotropy and step-induced uniaxial in-plane anisotropy. A preferential orientation of domain walls in 3ML thick Co films was observed. The finding is explained by the step-induced magnetic anisotropy

Ultrafast nonthermal photo-magnetic recording in a transparent medium

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