image: (Top panel) Schematic image of the magnetic anisotropy control by resonant pumping of phonon (blue) and 4f electrons (red). (Bottom panel) Spin dynamics measured after MIR pumping tuned at 4f electronic transition (red) exhibits immediate onset of reorientation, while ultrafast heating of phonon system (blue) results in a delayed onset reflecting finite thermalization time. view more
Credit: The University of Tokyo, University of Konstanz, Osaka University
Osaka, Japan – One of the most important tasks in modern information technologies is controlling spin directions in magnets. State-of-the-art hard disk drives and large-volume magnetic storage used in data centers require magnetization in solids to switch their directions in nanoseconds, corresponding to GHz frequency, or even faster speeds. An ever-increasing demand for writing speed has pushed researchers towards extensive research in optical techniques using femtosecond laser pulses.
When very short, intense laser pulses in the near-infrared wavelength range are absorbed in magnets, a complex energy exchange occurs between the electronic, lattice, and spin systems, resulting in the modification of magnetic anisotropy. Understanding how such internal energy transfers between subsystems following ultrafast photoexcitation result in the change of magnetic anisotropy is crucial for the implementation of efficient and ultrafast magnetic recording, reaching beyond picoseconds or even femtoseconds in the future.
In this work, researchers from University of Konstanz, The University of Tokyo, and Osaka University have shown that the photoexcitation of electronic and lattice degrees of freedom at femtosecond time scales results in distinctly different temporal evolutions of the magnetic anisotropy in the prototypical weak ferromagnet Sm0.7Er0.3FeO3.
This rare-earth orthoferrite exhibits a so-called spin reorientation transition (SRT) in which a change of the spin direction occurs at a critical temperature. By irradiating the sample with an intense, femtosecond mid-infrared laser pulse resonantly tuned to a phonon frequency and probing the ultrafast spin dynamics due to spin reorientation, the SRT was found to occur with a delayed onset. Here, the relatively slow thermalization of the crystal lattice limits the spin dynamics. In contrast, when exciting the 4f electronic transition of the rare-earth Sm3+ ions, it was found that the SRT dynamics started immediately.
This result indicates that the magnetic anisotropy is altered by means of a purely electronic change without emitting excessive heat into the lattice system. The data indicate that the speed of this ultrafast anisotropy modification reaches a time scale of tens of femtoseconds – much faster than the spin dynamics itself. Thus, the 4f electronic pumping may allow for ultrafast “triggering” of the magnetization switching in future spintronics devices that operate below picosecond time scales.
“The influence of the ultrafast lattice heating following infrared photoexcitation has been widely investigated so far. However, this is the first time that the roles of the lattice and electronic transitions on the ultrafast magnetic anisotropy have been clearly distinguished at femtosecond time scales”, authors say.
Since transition-metal compounds that contain rare-earth elements are among the most widely used magnets in the modern world, the scheme demonstrated here is expected to pave the way for a new non-thermal route to ultrafast control of spin dynamics in an important class of materials.
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The article, “Ultrafast control of magnetic anisotropy by resonant excitation of 4f electrons and phonons in Sm0.7Er0.3FeO3,” was published in Physical Review Letters at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.107401
Correspondence
(about research)
Dr. Takayuki Kurihara
Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo
ZIP: 277-8581
Address: 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
TEL: +81-(0)4-713-63362
Email: takayuki.kurihara@issp.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Professor, Dr. Alfred Leitenstorfer
Department of Physics, University of Konstanz, Germany
Phone: +49-(0)7531-88-3817
Email: alfred.leitenstorfer@uni-konstanz.de
Associate Professor, Dr. Makoto Nakajima
Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University
TEL：+81-(0)6-6879-4225
E-mail: nakajima-m@ile.osaka-u.ac.jp
(about press)
Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University
TEL：+81-(0)6-6879-8711
E-mail：rezaken-syomu@office.osaka-u.ac.jp
About Osaka University
Osaka University was founded in 1931 as one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and is now one of Japan's leading comprehensive universities with a broad disciplinary spectrum. This strength is coupled with a singular drive for innovation that extends throughout the scientific process, from fundamental research to the creation of applied technology with positive economic impacts. Its commitment to innovation has been recognized in Japan and around the world, being named Japan's most innovative university in 2015 (Reuters 2015 Top 100) and one of the most innovative institutions in the world in 2017 (Innovative Universities and the Nature Index Innovation 2017). Now, Osaka University is leveraging its role as a Designated National University Corporation selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to contribute to innovation for human welfare, sustainable development of society, and social transformation.
Website: https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en
Journal
Physical Review Letters
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Ultrafast control of magnetic anisotropy by resonant excitation of 4f electrons and phonons in Sm0.7Er0.3FeO3
Article Publication Date
31-Aug-2021