Related papers: Twisted light affects ultrafast demagnetization
The ultimate control of magnetic states of matter at femtosecond (or even faster) timescales defines one of the most pursued paradigm shifts for future information technology. In this context, ultrafast laser pulses developed into extremely…
Magnetic phenomena are ubiquitous in our surroundings and indispensable for modern science and technology, but it is notoriously difficult to change the magnetic order of a material in a rapid way. However, if a thin nickel film is…
The orbital angular momenta (OAM) of electrons play an increasingly important role in ultrafast electron and magnetization dynamics. In this theoretical study, we investigate the electron dynamics induced by femtosecond laser pulses in a…
A quantitative understanding of the processes that trigger light-induced demagnetization on ultrashort timescales is crucial for achieving an ultrafast, radiation-controlled magnetic response in materials. This milestone is essential for…
We follow for the first time the evolution of the spin and orbital angular momentum of a thin Ni film during ultrafast demagnetization, by means of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. Both components decrease with a 130 +/- 40 fs time…
The parallel or antiparallel arrangement of electron spins plays a pivotal role in determining the properties of a physical system. To meet the demands for innovative technological solutions, extensive efforts have been dedicated to…
Irradiating solids with ultrashort laser pulses is known to initiate femtosecond timescale magnetization dynamics. However, sub-femtosecond spin dynamics have not yet been observed or predicted. Here, we explore ultrafast light-driven spin…
Ultrafast laser pulses provide unique tools to manipulate magnetization dynamics at femtosecond timescales, where the interaction of the electric field -- such as excitation of spin carriers to non-equilibrium states, generation of…
Laser pulses are known to induce symmetric demagnetization: equal loss of magnetic moments in the identical sublattices of antiferromagnets and ferromagnets at ultrashort timescales. Using time-dependent density functional theory, we show…
Excitation of a metallic ferromagnet such as Ni with an intensive femtosecond laser pulse causes an ultrafast demagnetization within approximately 300 fs. It was proposed that the ultrafast demagnetization measured in femtosecond…
The discovery of femtosecond laser-induced ultrafast demagnetization in 1996 opened a new field, femtomagnetism, in which magnetic order can be quenched on timescales shorter than a picosecond. This seminal observation revealed that angular…
In past decades, ultrafast spin dynamics in magnetic systems have been associated with heat deposition from high energy laser pulses, limiting the selective access to spin order. Here we use a long wavelength terahertz pump optical probe…
We report on {\it ab-initio} simulations of the quantum dynamics of electronic charge and spin when subjected to intense laser pulses. By performing separate calculations for a Ni thin film and bulk Ni, we conclude that surface effects have…
For nearly a decade, it has been a mystery why the small average number of photons absorbed per atom from an ultrashort laser pulse is able to induce a strong magnetization within a few hundred femtoseconds. Here we resolve this mystery by…
Irradiating a ferromagnetic material with an ultrashort laser pulse leads to demagnetization on a femtosecond timescale. We implement Elliott-Yafet type spin-flip scattering, mediated by electron-electron and electron-phonon collisions,…
Ultrafast non-thermal manipulation of magnetization by light relies on either indirect coupling of the electric field component of the light with spins via spin-orbit interaction or direct coupling between the magnetic field component and…
When a laser pulse excites a ferromagnet, its spin undergoes a dramatic change. The initial demagnetization process is very fast. Experimentally, it is found that the demagnetization time is related to the spin moment in the sample. In this…
The field of orbitronics has emerged with great potential to impact information technology by enabling environmentally friendly electronic devices. The main electronic degree of freedom at play is the orbital angular momentum, which can…
Since the beginning of femtomagnetism, it has been hotly debated how an ultrafast laser pulse can demagnetize a sample and switch its spins within a few hundred femtoseconds, but no consensus has been reached. In this paper, we propose that…
The dynamics of ultrafast demagnetisation in 3$d$ magnets is complicated by the presence of both spin ${\v S}$ and orbital ${\v L}$ angular momentum, with the microscopic mechanism by which the magnetic moment is redistributed to the…