New Journal of Physics (Jan 2015)

Nonlocal ultrafast demagnetization dynamics of Co/Pt multilayers by optical field enhancement

  • C von Korff Schmising,
  • M Giovannella,
  • D Weder,
  • S Schaffert,
  • J L Webb,
  • S Eisebitt

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/17/3/033047
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 3
p. 033047

Abstract

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The influence on ultrafast demagnetization dynamics of metallic nano-structured gratings deposited on thin films of magnetic Co/Pt multilayers is investigated by the time-resolved optical Kerr effect. Depending on the polarization of the pump pulse, a pronounced enhancement of the demagnetization amplitude is found. Calculation of the inhomogeneous optical field distribution due to plasmon interaction and time-dependent solutions of the coupled electron, lattice, and spin temperatures in two dimensions show good agreement with the experimental data, as well as giving evidence of non-local demagnetization dynamics due to electron diffusion.

Keywords