TY - JOUR
T1 - Microscopic model for all optical switching in ferromagnets
AU - Cornelissen, T.D.
AU - Cordoba Castillo, R.M.
AU - Koopmans, B.
PY - 2016/4/6
Y1 - 2016/4/6
N2 - The microscopic mechanism behind the all optical switching (AOS) in ferromagnets has triggered intense scientific debate. Here, the microscopic three-temperature model is utilized to describe AOS in a perpendicularly magnetized ferromagnetic Co/Pt system. We demonstrate that AOS in such a ferromagnet can be explained with the Inverse Faraday Effect (IFE). The influence of the strength and lifetime of the IFE induced field pulse on the switching process are investigated. We found that because of strong spin-orbit coupling, the minimal lifetime of the IFE needed to obtain switching is of the order of 0.1 ps, which is shorter than previously assumed. Moreover, spatial images of the domain pattern after AOS in Co/Pt, as well as their dependence on applying an opposite magnetic field, are qualitatively reproduced.
AB - The microscopic mechanism behind the all optical switching (AOS) in ferromagnets has triggered intense scientific debate. Here, the microscopic three-temperature model is utilized to describe AOS in a perpendicularly magnetized ferromagnetic Co/Pt system. We demonstrate that AOS in such a ferromagnet can be explained with the Inverse Faraday Effect (IFE). The influence of the strength and lifetime of the IFE induced field pulse on the switching process are investigated. We found that because of strong spin-orbit coupling, the minimal lifetime of the IFE needed to obtain switching is of the order of 0.1 ps, which is shorter than previously assumed. Moreover, spatial images of the domain pattern after AOS in Co/Pt, as well as their dependence on applying an opposite magnetic field, are qualitatively reproduced.
UR - http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/apl/108/14/10.1063/1.4945660
U2 - 10.1063/1.4945660
DO - 10.1063/1.4945660
M3 - Article
VL - 108
SP - 1
EP - 4
JO - Applied Physics Letters
JF - Applied Physics Letters
SN - 0003-6951
IS - 14
M1 - 142405
ER -