Laser-driven 1st order spin reorientation and Verwey phase transitions in the magnetite Fe3_3O4_4 beyond the range of thermodynamic equilibrium

Ultrafast photo-induced phase transitions occurring under the impact of femtosecond laser pulses provide versatile opportunities to switch solids between distinctly-different crystalline, electronic, and spin states and thus modify their functional properties in a significant manner. In this paper, we report on the laser-induced spin reorientation and Verwey phase transitions in a ferrimagnetic single crystalline magnetite Fe$_3$O$_4$. Using femtosecond optical and magneto-optical pump-probe techniques, we define the range of initial sample temperatures and laser fluences when partial or complete photo-induced phase transitions occur from a monoclinic insulating to a cubic metallic state with concomitant switching of magnetic anisotropy from the uniaxial to the cubic one. We thus reveal a connection between these phase transitions when driven by femtosecond laser pulses. Using transient linear and quadratic magneto-optical effects, we examine magnetization dynamics launched by the magnetic anisotropy axis switching, and unveil the presence of the domains undergoing the laser-induced phase transitions even below the established thershold fluence for the transitions, as well as when the material is initially in the cubic phase. This is the manifestation of the 1st order of these laser-induced phase transitions beyond the range of thermodynamic equilibrium.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure, 1 supplemental materia

The effect of dynamical compressive and shear strain on magnetic anisotropy in a low symmetry ferromagnetic film

Dynamical strain generated upon excitation of a metallic film by a femtosecond laser pulse may become a versatile tool enabling control of magnetic state of thin _lms and nanostructures via inverse magnetostriction on a picosecond time scale. Here we explore two alternative approaches to manipulate magnetocrystalline anisotropy and excite magnetization precession in a low-symmetry _lm of a magnetic metallic alloy galfenol (Fe,Ga) either by injecting picosecond strain pulse into it from a substrate or by generating dynamical strain of complex temporal profile in the film directly. In the former case we realize ultrafast excitation of magnetization dynamics solely by strain pulses. In the latter case optically-generated strain emerged abruptly in the film modifies its magnetocrystalline anisotropy, competing with heat-induced change of anisotropy parameters. We demonstrate that the optically-generated strain remains efficient for launching magnetization precession, when the heat-induced changes of anisotropy parameters do not trigger the precession anymore. We emphasize that in both approaches the ultrafast change of magnetic anisotropy mediating the precession excitation relies on mixed, compressive and shear, character of the dynamical strain, which emerges due to low-symmetry of the metallic film under study

Laser-induced Demagnetization in van der Waals XYXY- and Ising-like Antiferromagnets NiPS3_3 and FePS3_3

The critical behaviour of laser-induced changes in magnetic ordering is studied experimentally in two-dimensional zigzag antiferromagnets $XY$-like NiPS$_3$ and Ising-like FePS$_3$. To examine laser-induced dynamics in flakes of these compounds, we employ time-resolved exchange linear dichroism effect sensitive to zigzag magnetic ordering and independent of the orientation of the antiferromagnetic vector. In both compounds laser excitation in the vicinity of the absorption edge induces partial quenching of the antiferromagnetic ordering manifested by exchange linear dichroism reduction. The amplitude of the effect varies with temperature as the derivative of the antiferromagnetic vector and exhibits a critical behaviour with the exponents corresponding to $XY$- and Ising-models for NiPS$_3$ and FePS$_3$, respectively. Critical slowing down of the demagnetization in the vicinity of N\'eel temperature is found, however, only in FePS$_3$. In contrast, the increase of the demagnetization time near the ordering temperature in NiPS$_3$ is minor. We show that the difference in the demagnetization times correlates well with the spin specific heat in both compounds. Beyond the range of slowing down, the demagnetization times in NiPS$_3$ and FePS$_3$ are comparable, about 5 - 10 ps, and are longer than those reported earlier for CoPS$_3$ and considerably shorter than for MnPS$_3$. This points to the importance of the unquenched angular momentum of transition-metal ions in laser-induced demagnetization process.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Optical Excitation of Propagating Magnetostatic Waves in an Epitaxial Galfenol Film by Ultrafast Magnetic Anisotropy Change

© 2019 American Physical Society. Using a time-resolved optically pumped scanning-optical-microscopy technique, we demonstrate the laser-driven excitation and propagation of spin waves in a 20-nm film of a ferromagnetic metallic alloy Galfenol epitaxially grown on a GaAs substrate. In contrast to previous all-optical studies of spin waves, we employ laser-induced thermal changes of magnetocrystalline anisotropy as an excitation mechanism. A tightly focused 70-fs laser pulse excites packets of magnetostatic surface waves with an e-1-propagation length of 3.4μm, which is comparable with that of permalloy. As a result, laser-driven magnetostatic spin waves are clearly detectable at distances in excess of 10μm, which promotes epitaxial Galfenol films to the limited family of materials suitable for magnonic devices. A pronounced in-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the Galfenol film offers an additional degree of freedom for manipulating the spin waves' parameters. Reorientation of an in-plane external magnetic field relative to the crystallographic axes of the sample tunes the frequency, amplitude, and propagation length of the excited waves

Effect of magnetic anisotropy relaxation on laser-induced magnetization precession in thin galfenol films

The rate and pathways of relaxation of a magnetic medium to its equilibrium following excitation with intense and short laser pulses are the key ingredients of ultrafast optical control of spins. Here we study experimentally the evolution of the magnetization and magnetic anisotropy of thin films of a ferromagnetic metal galfenol (Fe0.81Ga0.19) resulting from excitation with a femtosecond laser pulse. From the temporal evolution of the hysteresis loops we deduce that the magnetization MS and magnetic anisotropy parameters K recover within a nanosecond, and the ratio between K and MS satisfies the thermal equilibrium's power law in the whole time range spanning from a few picoseconds to 3 nanoseconds. We further use the experimentally obtained relaxation times of MS and K to analyze the laser-induced precession and demonstrate how they contribute to its frequency evolution at the nanosecond timescale

Optical excitation of single- and multi-mode magnetization precession in Fe-Ga nanolayers

We demonstrate a variety of precessional responses of the magnetization to ultrafast optical excitation in nanolayers of Galfenol (Fe,Ga), which is a ferromagnetic material with large saturation magnetization and enhanced magnetostriction. The particular properties of Galfenol, including cubic magnetic anisotropy and weak damping, allow us to detect up to 6 magnon modes in a 120nm layer, and a single mode with effective damping _eff = 0.005 and frequency up to 100 GHz in a 4- nm layer. This is the highest frequency observed to date in time-resolved experiments with metallic ferromagnets. We predict that detection of magnetisation precession approaching THz frequencies should be possible with Galfenol nanolayers

Optically excited spin pumping mediating collective magnetization dynamics in a spin valve structure

We demonstrate spin pumping, i.e., the generation of a pure spin current by precessing magnetization, without the application of microwave radiation commonly used in spin pumping experiments. We use femtosecond laser pulses to simultaneously launch the magnetization precession in each of two ferromagnetic layers of a galfenol-based spin valve and monitor the temporal evolution of the magnetizations. The spin currents generated by the precession cause a dynamic coupling of the two layers. This coupling has a dissipative character and is especially efficient when the precession frequencies in the two layers are in resonance, where coupled modes with strongly different decay rates are formed

Role of turbulence and electric fields in the formation of transport barriers and the establishment of improved confinement in tokamak plasmas through inter-machine comparison

Over the past decade new regimes of tokamak operation have been identified, whereby electrostatic and magnetic turbulence responsible for anomalous transport, can be externally suppressed, leading to improved confinement. Although turbulence measurements have been performed on many confinement devices, the insight gained from these experiments is relatively limited. To make further progress in the understanding of plasma turbulence in relation to improved confinement and transport barriers, an extensive experimental and theoretical research programme should be undertaken. The present INTAS project investigates the correlations between on the one hand the occurrence of transport barriers and improved confinement in the tokamaks TEXTOR & T-10 and Tore Supra as well as on the smaller-scale tokamaks FT-2, TUMAN-3M and CASTOR, and on the other hand electric fields, modified magnetic shear and electrostatic and magnetic turbulence using advanced diagnostics with high spatial and temporal resolution. This is done in a strongly coordinated way and exploiting the complementarity of TEXTOR and T-10 and the backup potential of the other tokamaks, which together have all the relevant experimental tools and theoretical expertise. Advanced theoretical models and numerical simulations are used to check the experimental results.За останні десять років було отримано нові режими роботи токамаків, у яких електростатична і магнітна турбулентність, відповідальна за аномальний перенос, могла заглушатися шляхом зовнішнього впливу, і тим самим досягалося поліпшене утримання. Незважаючи на те, що дослідження турбулентності проводилися на багатьох установках, розуміння цих процесів залишається досить обмеженим. Для досягнення подальшого прогресу в розумінні плазмової турбулентності з погляду поліпшеного утримання і транспортних бар'єрів необхідні інтенсивні експериментальні і теоретичні дослідження. Проект INTAS спрямовано на з'ясування кореляції між виникненням транспортних бар'єрів і поліпшеного утримання в токамаках TEXTOR, Т-10 і Tore Supra, а також у токамаках малих розмірів ФТ-2, ТУМАН-3М и CASTOR, з одного боку, і електричними полями, модифікованим магнітним широм і електростатичною і магнітною турбулентністю, з іншого боку, з використанням передових діагностичних засобів з високим просторовим і тимчасовим розділенням. Дослідження проводяться з високим ступенем координації робіт і використанням взаємодоповнюваності установок TEXTOR і Т-10, і можливостей інших токамаків, що в сукупності забезпечить необхідну експериментальну і теоретичну перевірку. Для перевірки експериментальних результатів буде використано нові теоретичні моделі і чисельне моделювання.В последние десять лет были получены новые режимы работы токамаков, в которых электростатическая и магнитная турбулентность, ответственная за аномальный перенос, могла подавляться путём внешнего воздействия, и тем самым достигалось улучшенное удержание. Несмотря на то, что исследования турбулентности проводились на многих установках, понимание этих процессов остаётся весьма ограниченным. Для достижения дальнейшего прогресса в понимании плазменной турбулентности с точки зрения улучшенного удержания и транспортных барьеров необходимы интенсивные экспериментальные и теоретические исследования. Проект INTAS направлен на выяснение корреляции между возникновением транспортных барьеров и улучшенного удержания в токамаках TEXTOR, Т-10 и Tore Supra, а также в токамаках малых размеров ФТ-2, ТУМАН-3М и CASTOR, с одной стороны, и электрическими полями, модифицированным магнитным широм и электростатической и магнитной турбулентностью, с другой стороны, с использованием передовых диагностических средств с высоким пространственным и временным разрешением. Исследования проводятся с высокой степенью координации работ и использованием взаимодополняемости установок TEXTOR и Т-10, и возможностей других токамаков, что в совокупности обеспечит необходимую экспериментальную и теоретическую проверку. Для проверки экспериментальных результатов будут использованы новые теоретические модели и численное моделирование

ECMO for COVID-19 patients in Europe and Israel

Since March 15th, 2020, 177 centres from Europe and Israel have joined the study, routinely reporting on the ECMO support they provide to COVID-19 patients. The mean annual number of cases treated with ECMO in the participating centres before the pandemic (2019) was 55. The number of COVID-19 patients has increased rapidly each week reaching 1531 treated patients as of September 14th. The greatest number of cases has been reported from France (n = 385), UK (n = 193), Germany (n = 176), Spain (n = 166), and Italy (n = 136) .The mean age of treated patients was 52.6 years (range 16–80), 79% were male. The ECMO configuration used was VV in 91% of cases, VA in 5% and other in 4%. The mean PaO2 before ECMO implantation was 65 mmHg. The mean duration of ECMO support thus far has been 18 days and the mean ICU length of stay of these patients was 33 days. As of the 14th September, overall 841 patients have been weaned from ECMO support, 601 died during ECMO support, 71 died after withdrawal of ECMO, 79 are still receiving ECMO support and for 10 patients status n.a. . Our preliminary data suggest that patients placed on ECMO with severe refractory respiratory or cardiac failure secondary to COVID-19 have a reasonable (55%) chance of survival. Further extensive data analysis is expected to provide invaluable information on the demographics, severity of illness, indications and different ECMO management strategies in these patients