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Optical excitation of thin magnetic layers in multilayer structures

Nature Materials volume 13, pages 101–102 (2014)Cite this article

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Ultrafast laser-induced demagnetization is often ascribed to the absorption of light by electrons in the magnetic medium, with subsequent redistribution of energy and angular momentum1. Recently, an alternative mechanism was introduced, namely, a superdiffusive spin transport between adjacent layers2. Eschenlohr et al. claim to validate this mechanism1. In an optically excited Au/Ni layered structure, they found that the demagnetization of Ni can be up to 80%. It was calculated that light absorption in the magnetic layer is negligible compared with the absorption in the gold capping layer. Thus they conclude: “In strong contrast to existing knowledge we find that direct optical excitation is not a precondition for ultrafast demagnetization”.

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Figure 1: Absorption profile in a gold/nickel sample.

References

  1. Eschenlohr, A. et al. Nature Mater. 12, 332–336 (2013).

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Acknowledgements

A.R.K. would like to thank R. Sobierajski for useful discussions. This work was supported by the European Union's Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) FEMTOSPIN, ERC Grant Agreement No. 257280(Femtomagnetism), de Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM) and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).

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  1. Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, the Netherlands

    A. R. Khorsand, M. Savoini, A. Kirilyuk & Th. Rasing

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  1. A. R. Khorsand
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  2. M. Savoini
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  3. A. Kirilyuk
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  4. Th. Rasing
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Correspondence to A. R. Khorsand.

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Khorsand, A., Savoini, M., Kirilyuk, A. et al. Optical excitation of thin magnetic layers in multilayer structures. Nature Mater 13, 101–102 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3850

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