Enhanced THz Emission and Chirality Control in van der Waals Ferromagnetic FePd<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>2</sub>/Pt Heterostructures
Jiali Zhang, Bingxian Shi, H. F. Xu, Yiwen Song, Yuqing Zou, Ziyang Li, Hongtao Dai, Yuna Song, Qingyuan Jin, Peng Cheng, Zuanming Jin, Zongzhi Zhang
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials, with their unique van der Waals (vdW) layered structure, tunable magnetism, and strong spin–orbit coupling, are promising for spintronic applications like terahertz (THz) emitters. Our study investigates the THz radiation properties of the newly discovered vdW ferromagnet FePd 2 Te 2, which features a one-dimensional Fe zigzag chain structure and strong in-plane uniaxial anisotropy. Using ultrafast reflective THz emission spectroscopy (TES), we demonstrate that the paramagnetic FePd 2 Te 2 produces weak THz emission at room temperature. However, when capped with a 3 nm Pt layer, the THz emission intensity is significantly enhanced, attributed to spin-to-charge conversion (SCC) via the inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE). In the FePd 2 Te 2 /Pt heterostructure, the THz emission intensity is closely linked to the spin texture induced by crystal twinning in FePd 2 Te 2 and depends on the polarization angle of the pump laser. Two mechanisms for the photoexcited spin current generation are identified: one from spin-polarized hot electrons at the FePd 2 Te 2 /Pt interface, and the other, which is dominant, from angular momentum transfer through a nonlinear optical effect that induces impulsive magnetization. These findings provide valuable insights into the spin dynamics of 2D materials and open avenues for high-density, low-power THz spintronic device development based on advanced 2D vdW magnets.