iScience (May 2022)

THz emission from Fe/Pt spintronic emitters with L10-FePt alloyed interface

  • Laura Scheuer,
  • Moritz Ruhwedel,
  • Dimitrios Karfaridis,
  • Isaak G. Vasileiadis,
  • Dominik Sokoluk,
  • Garik Torosyan,
  • George Vourlias,
  • George P. Dimitrakopoulos,
  • Marco Rahm,
  • Burkard Hillebrands,
  • Thomas Kehagias,
  • René Beigang,
  • Evangelos Th. Papaioannou

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 5
p. 104319

Abstract

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Summary: Recent developments in nanomagnetism and spintronics have enabled the use of ultrafast spin physics for terahertz (THz) emission. Spintronic THz emitters, consisting of ferromagnetic (FM)/non-magnetic (NM) thin film heterostructures, have demonstrated impressive properties for the use in THz spectroscopy and have great potential in scientific and industrial applications. In this work, we focus on the impact of the FM/NM interface on the THz emission by investigating Fe/Pt bilayers with engineered interfaces. In particular, we intentionally modify the Fe/Pt interface by inserting an ordered L10-FePt alloy interlayer. Subsequently, we establish that a Fe/L10-FePt (2 nm)/Pt configuration is significantly superior to a Fe/Pt bilayer structure, regarding THz emission amplitude. The latter depends on the extent of alloying on either side of the interface. The unique trilayer structure opens new perspectives in terms of material choices for the next generation of spintronic THz emitters.

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