Two X-ray Laser pulses interfere on the surface (IMAGE)

Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)

Two X-ray Laser pulses interfere on the surface

Caption

Two X-ray laser pulses interfere on the surface of a ferrimagnetic GdFe alloy, leading to a lateral modulation of the electron temperatures, a reduction of the local magnetization and all-optical switching of the magnetization. In this fashion, data bits to be stored can be written by purely optical means. On the right hand side, the period of grating and hence the size of a bit is reduced to below 25 nm. As a result, the temperature profile is washed out before the magnetization is sufficiently reduced and all-optical switching breaks down. Picture credits: Moritz Eisebitt

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Moritz Eisebitt

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