Single shot time-resolved magnetic x-ray absorption at a Free Electron Laser

Ultrafast dynamics are generally investigated using stroboscopic pump-probe measurements, which characterize the sample properties for a single, specific time delay. These measurements are then repeated for a series of discrete time delays to reconstruct the overall time trace of the process. As a consequence, this approach is limited to the investigation of fully reversible phenomena. We recently introduced an off-axis zone plate based X-ray streaking technique, which overcomes this limitation by sampling the relaxation dynamics with a single femtosecond X-ray pulse streaked over a picosecond long time window. In this article we show that the X-ray absorption cross section can be employed as the contrast mechanism in this novel technique. We show that changes of the absorption cross section on the percent level can be resolved with this method. To this end we measure the ultrafast magnetization dynamics in CoDy alloy films. Investigating different chemical compositions and infrared pump fluences, we demonstrate the routine applicability of this technique. Probing in transmission the average magnetization dynamics of the entire film, our experimental findings indicate that the demagnetization time is independent of the specific infrared laser pump fluence. These results pave the way for the investigation of irreversible phenomena in a wide variety of scientific areas.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Modification ultrarapide de l'anisotropie magnétique dans un alliage CoTb

In this thesis, we report the time evolution of first and third order of magnetic scattering from an amorphous CoTb film after a femtosecond excitation. These results are obtained by applying a resonant small angle X ray scattering at the Co magnetic absorption edge M3 via a repetitive pump probe experiments. Difference in behaviours between the first and third scattering orders was observed after 3.5 ps where a second drop of the third order intensity appears. Using suitable models, we show that this difference is due to an increase of the domain wall width separating two opposite domains. We suppose that this wall broadening is generated by the variation of the out of plane uniaxial anisotropy due to the thermal heating of the lattice by the femtosecond laser pulse. This interpretation is verified by following the uniaxial anisotropy as function of the heating temperature by doing static SQUID-VSM measurementsDans cette thèse, nous rapportons l'évolution temporelle du premier et du troisième ordre de la diffusion magnétique d'un film CoTb amorphe après une excitation femtoseconde. Ces résultats sont obtenus en appliquant une diffusion résonnants de rayons X aux petits angles au seuil d'absorption magnétique de Co M3 via des expériences de pompe sonde répétitives. Une différence de comportement entre le premier et le troisième ordre de diffusion a été observée après 3,5 ps, où une seconde baisse de l'intensité du troisième ordre apparaît. En utilisant des modèles appropriés, nous montrons que cette différence est due à une augmentation de la largeur de la paroi du domaine séparant deux domaines opposés. Nous supposons que cet élargissement de la paroi est généré par une variation de l'anisotropie uniaxiale hors plan due au réchauffement thermique du réseau par l'impulsion laser femtoseconde. Cette interprétation est vérifiée en mesurant l’anisotropie uniaxiale en fonction de la température de chauffage en effectuant des mesures statiques SQUID-VSM

Modification ultrarapide de l'anisotropie magnétique dans un alliage CoTb

Dans cette thèse, nous rapportons l'évolution temporelle du premier et du troisième ordre de la diffusion magnétique d'un film CoTb amorphe après une excitation femtoseconde. Ces résultats sont obtenus en appliquant une diffusion résonnants de rayons X aux petits angles au seuil d'absorption magnétique de Co M3 via des expériences de pompe sonde répétitives. Une différence de comportement entre le premier et le troisième ordre de diffusion a été observée après 3,5 ps, où une seconde baisse de l'intensité du troisième ordre apparaît. En utilisant des modèles appropriés, nous montrons que cette différence est due à une augmentation de la largeur de la paroi du domaine séparant deux domaines opposés. Nous supposons que cet élargissement de la paroi est généré par une variation de l'anisotropie uniaxiale hors plan due au réchauffement thermique du réseau par l'impulsion laser femtoseconde. Cette interprétation est vérifiée en mesurant l’anisotropie uniaxiale en fonction de la température de chauffage en effectuant des mesures statiques SQUID-VSM.In this thesis, we report the time evolution of first and third order of magnetic scattering from an amorphous CoTb film after a femtosecond excitation. These results are obtained by applying a resonant small angle X ray scattering at the Co magnetic absorption edge M3 via a repetitive pump probe experiments. Difference in behaviours between the first and third scattering orders was observed after 3.5 ps where a second drop of the third order intensity appears. Using suitable models, we show that this difference is due to an increase of the domain wall width separating two opposite domains. We suppose that this wall broadening is generated by the variation of the out of plane uniaxial anisotropy due to the thermal heating of the lattice by the femtosecond laser pulse. This interpretation is verified by following the uniaxial anisotropy as function of the heating temperature by doing static SQUID-VSM measurement

Laser-induced ultrafast demagnetization and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy reduction in a Co88Tb12 thin film with stripe domains

International audienceWe use time-resolved x-ray resonant magnetic scattering (TR-XRMS) at the Co M 2,3 and Tb O 1 edges to studyultrafast demagnetization in an amorphous Co 88 Tb 12 alloy with stripe domains. Combining the femtosecond temporal with nanometer spatial resolution of our experiment, we demonstrate that the equilibrium spin texture of the thin film remains unaltered by the optical pump pulse on ultrashort timescales (< 1 ps). However, after 4 ps, we observe the onset of a significant domain wall broadening, which we attribute to a reduction of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of the system, due to energy transfer to the lattice. Static temperature-dependent magnetometry measurements combined with analytical modeling of the magnetic structure of the thin film corroborate this interpretation

Transient magnetic gratings on the nanometer scale

Laser-driven non-local electron dynamics in ultrathin magnetic samples on a sub-10 nm length scale is a key process in ultrafast magnetism. However, the experimental access has been challenging due to the nanoscopic and femtosecond nature of such transport processes. Here, we present a scattering-based experiment relying on a laser-induced electro- and magneto-optical grating in a Co/Pd ferromagnetic multilayer as a new technique to investigate non-local magnetization dynamics on nanometer length and femtosecond timescales. We induce a spatially modulated excitation pattern using tailored Al near-field masks with varying periodicities on a nanometer length scale and measure the first four diffraction orders in an x-ray scattering experiment with magnetic circular dichroism contrast at the free-electron laser facility FERMI, Trieste. The design of the periodic excitation mask leads to a strongly enhanced and characteristic transient scattering response allowing for sub-wavelength in-plane sensitivity for magnetic structures. In conjunction with scattering simulations, the experiment allows us to infer that a potential ultrafast lateral expansion of the initially excited regions of the magnetic film mediated by hot-electron transport and spin transport remains confined to below three nanometers.DFG, 328545488, TRR 227: Ultraschnelle Spindynami