Terahertz Emission Spectroscopy of Ultrafast Coupled Spin and Charge Dynamics in Nanometer Ferromagnetic Heterostructures

Zhangshun Li; Yexin Jiang; Zuanming Jin; Zhuoyi Li; Xianyang Lu; Zhijiang Ye; Jin-Yi Pang; Yongbing Xu; Yan Peng

doi:10.3390/nano12234267

Nanomaterials (Nov 2022)

Terahertz Emission Spectroscopy of Ultrafast Coupled Spin and Charge Dynamics in Nanometer Ferromagnetic Heterostructures

Zhangshun Li,
Yexin Jiang,
Zuanming Jin,
Zhuoyi Li,
Xianyang Lu,
Zhijiang Ye,
Jin-Yi Pang,
Yongbing Xu,
Yan Peng

Affiliations

Zhangshun Li: Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Yexin Jiang: Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Zuanming Jin: Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Zhuoyi Li: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Photonic and Electronic Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Xianyang Lu: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Photonic and Electronic Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Zhijiang Ye: Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Jin-Yi Pang: Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Yongbing Xu: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Photonic and Electronic Materials, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Yan Peng: Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12234267
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 23
p. 4267

Abstract

Read online

Due to its high sensitivity and because it does not rely on the magneto-optical response, terahertz (THz) emission spectroscopy has been used as a powerful time-resolved tool for investigating ultrafast demagnetization and spin current dynamics in nanometer-thick ferromagnetic (FM)/heavy metal (HM) heterostructures. Here, by changing the order of the conductive HM coating on the FM nanometer film, the dominant electric dipole contribution to the laser-induced THz radiation can be unraveled from the ultrafast magnetic dipole. Furthermore, to take charge equilibration into account, we separate the femtosecond laser-induced spin-to-charge converted current and the instantaneous discharging current within the illuminated area. The THz emission spectroscopy gives us direct information into the coupled spin and charge dynamics during the first moments of the light–matter interaction. Our results also open up new perspectives to manipulate and optimize the ultrafast charge current for promising high-performance and broadband THz radiation.

Published in Nanomaterials

ISSN: 2079-4991 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords