Probing optically induced spin currents using terahertz spin waves in noncollinear magnetic bilayers
Tom Lichtenberg, M. Beens, Menno H. Jansen, B. Koopmans, R. A. Duine
Abstract
The mechanism responsible for the generation of optically induced spin currents upon femtosecond laser-pulse excitation of ultrathin ferromagnetic layers is still a heavily debated topic. In this paper, the authors study the phase of spin-current induced terahertz spin waves in noncollinear bilayer structures to probe spin currents in Fourier space. They measure a significant laser-pulse energy dependence of the spin-wave phase, which is quantitatively consistent with a spin current that is proportional to the time derivative of the magnetization.
Topics & Concepts
SpintronicsSpin waveCondensed matter physicsMagnetizationTerahertz radiationSpin (aerodynamics)Spin Hall effectSpinplasmonicsPhysicsExcitationSpin polarizationSpin pumpingFerromagnetismOpticsMagnetic fieldQuantum mechanicsThermodynamicsElectronMagnetic properties of thin filmsQuantum and electron transport phenomenaNeural Networks and Reservoir Computing