Abstract Excitation of coherent high-frequency magnons (quanta of spin waves) is critical to the development of high-speed magnonic devices. Here we computationally demonstrate the excitation of coherent sub-terahertz (THz) magnons in ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) thin films by a photoinduced picosecond acoustic pulse. Analytical calculations are also performed to reveal the magnon excitation mechanism. Through spin pumping and spin-charge conversion, these magnons can inject sub-THz charge current into an adjacent heavy-metal film which in turn emits electromagnetic (EM) waves. Using a dynamical phase-field model that considers the coupled dynamics of acoustic waves, spin waves, and EM waves, we show that the emitted EM wave retains the spectral information of all the sub-THz magnon modes and has a sufficiently large amplitude for near-field detection. These predictions indicate that the excitation and detection of sub-THz magnons can be realized in rationally designed FM or AFM thin-film heterostructures via ultrafast optical-pump THz-emission-probe spectroscopy.
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Efficient Optical Control of Magnon Dynamics in van der Waals Ferromagnets
Optical control of magnons in two-dimensional (2D) materials promises new functionalities for spintronics and magnonics in atomically thin devices. Here, we report control of magnon dynamics, using laser polarization, in a ferromagnetic van der Waals (vdW) material, Fe3.6Co1.4GeTe2. The magnon amplitude, frequency, and lifetime are controlled and monitored by time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy. We show substantial (over 25%) and continuous modulation of magnon dynamics as a function of incident laser polarization. Our results suggest that the modification of the effective demagnetization field and magnetic anisotropy by the pump laser pulses with different polarizations is due to anisotropic optical absorption. This implies that pump laser pulses modify the local spin environment, which enables the launch of magnons with tunable dynamics. Our first-principles calculations confirm the anisotropic optical absorption of different crystal orientations. Our findings suggest a new route for the development of opto-spintronic or opto-magnonic devices.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2326944
- PAR ID:
- 10523140
- Publisher / Repository:
- AAAS
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Ultrafast Science
- Edition / Version:
- 1
- Volume:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 2765-8791
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 0064
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Ultrafast optics, magnon, 2D materials
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: 7MB Other: pdf
- Size(s):
- 7MB
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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