Ultrafast magnetization dynamics in Co-based Heusler compounds with tuned chemical ordering

Abstract

We have studied thin film samples of ${\rm C}{{{\rm o}}_{2}}$ FeSi and ${\rm C}{{{\rm o}}_{2}}$ MnSi with different degrees of chemical ordering using the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect to elucidate the influence of defects in the crystal structure on magnetization dynamics. Surprisingly, we find that the presence of defects does not influence the optically induced magnetization dynamics on the ultrashort timescale (some 100 fs). However, we observe a second demagnetization stage with a timescale of tens of picoseconds in ${\rm C}{{{\rm o}}_{2}}$ MnSi for low chemical ordering; that is, a large number of defects. We interpret this second demagnetization step as originating from scattering of mostly thermalized majority electrons into unoccupied minority defect states.

Keywords

• ultrafast demagnetization
• Heusler compounds
• halfmetallic materials
• spin dynamics
• magnetic properties
• 75.78.Jp