The study of ultrafast magnetization dynamics induced by femtosecond laser pulses in GdFeCo amorphous film

The time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr spectroscopy technique is used to study the ultrafast magnetization dynamics induced by femtosecond laser pulses in GdFeCo amorphous film. We study concretely the influence of the different pump fluence and the different external magnetic field on magnetization dynamics of ultrafast demagnetization, magnetization reversal and magnetization recovery. The pump fluence dependence magnetization dynamics shows that the degree of demagnetization, the degree of magnetization reversal and the time of magnetization recovery increase with pump fluence, which can be interpreted by the “three-temperature” model. The external magnetic field dependence magnetization dynamics shows that the rate of magnetization reversal increases with the external field, which accord with the magnetization reversal mechanism based on the reversed magnetic domain nucleation and domain-wall motion.     

Femtosecond spectrotemporal magneto-optics

A new method to measure and analyze the time and spectrally resolved polarimetric response of magnetic materials is presented. It allows us to study the ultrafast magnetization dynamics of a CoPt3 ferromagnetic film. The analysis of the pump-induced rotation and ellipticity detected by a broad spectrum probe beam shows that magneto-optical signals predominantly reflect the spin dynamics in ferromagnets.     

Near-field magneto-optics and microscopy in resonant scattering of light from a linear nanoprobe

A theory is presented for the polar near-field magneto-optical Kerr effect in scattering of light from a linear nanoprobe. In the framework of Green’s function technique, a solution is obtained for the problem of near-field magneto-optics and apertureless scanning microscopy of lateral magnetic inhomogeneities (domains) with nanometer scale. The probe in the form of a nanowire and the sample with a near-surface magnetic nanolayer are considered to support surface plasmons. Electromagnetic coupling between a nanow-ire and a sample surface (polarizability of the complex “probe plus image charges”) is taken into account self-consistently. Magneto-induced polarization of an ultrathin near-surface layer is treated within linear approximation in magnetization which is perpendicular to the layer. The polarization, spectral and angular characteristics of light scattering modulated by magnetization and resonantly enhanced by surface plasmons are examined. Dependence of the near-field magneto-optical response on the probe-domain distance along the sample surface is obtained. The resolution power of scanning near-field microscopy is estimated and the factors to influence it are pointed out.     

Elastic and magnetic dynamics of nanomagnet-ordered arrays impulsively excited by subpicosecond laser pulses

This Letter reports on the first observation of elastic and magnetic dynamics of ordered arrays of permalloy nanodots excited by low-intensity 120 fs light pulses. The first order of the diffraction pattern, generated by the probe beam in a pump-probe configuration, is used for time-resolved reflectivity and time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements. The nonadiabatical absorption of the pump triggers an acoustic standing wave, detected by the reflected probe signal, with a frequency related to the array wave vector. Instead, the magneto-optical signal exhibits, on the nanosecond time scale, the signature of the heat-exchange diffusion processes. In addition, a clear oscillation of the magnetic signal, at a frequency close to the frequency of the acoustic wave, is unambiguously detected. Finally, the interplay between the elastic and magnetic dynamics is analyzed and interpreted.     

Ultrafast spin dynamics of an individual CoPt3 ferromagnetic dot

We have studied the ultrafast magneto-optical response of CoPt₃ ferromagnetic nanodots with diameters ranging from 0.2 to 1 μm. Our experiments combine an accurate temporal resolution using femtosecond laser pulses and a high spatial resolution ( 300 nm) obtained with a reflective confocal Kerr microscope. Our experimental approach allows exploring the dynamics of the magnetization of magnetic nanostructures over a broad temporal scale ranging from 100 fs to 1 ns. We report the corresponding relaxation behavior of the electrons and the spins initially excited with a large excess energy above the Fermi level.     

飞秒光诱导铽镓石榴石晶体中的磁化响应研究

运用时间分辨抽运-探测光谱技术,研究了磁光晶体铽镓石榴石(TGG)在不同椭圆偏振态的飞秒激光脉冲诱导下的极化和磁化响应.研究表明,当仅存在逆法拉第效应时,探测光旋转角信号和椭圆率信号的变化方向与圆偏振抽运光的旋向相关.这是由于圆偏振光在TGG晶体中产生的瞬态有效磁场的方向依赖于圆偏振光的旋向所致.光诱导磁化过程与材料的性质有关,TGG晶体的顺磁特性决定了其自旋弛豫时间为几十飞秒.由于探测光旋转角信号和椭圆率信号的半高全宽均为500 fs左右,加之信号强度随着抽运光脉冲能量密度的增加呈线性增长,表明TGG晶 关键词： 铽镓石榴石晶体 抽运-探测光谱技术 逆法拉第效应     

Strain imaging of a magnetic material

Magnetic microscopies developed to date sense or utilize stray magnetic fields, magneto-optical effects, interactions with electron beams, and so on, while a novel magnetic microscopy presented in this paper detects a strain induced by an external magnetic field using a scanning probe microscope (SPM). As the strains involve factors depending on the magnetization of each domain, we can observe the magnetic domain structure by detecting the strains. SPMs that have high sensitivity to surface displacements caused by strains enable us to detect small strains and provide high-resolution magnetic images. PACS 61.16.Ch; 85.70.Ge; 75.80.+q; 75.60.Ch     

Dependence of femtosecond time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr rotation on the direction of polarization of the probe beam

We demonstrate that the femtosecond time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr rotation oscillates with the direction of polarization of the probe beam when a sample of Al0.25Ga0.75As/GaAs multi-quantum wells is excited by a circularly polarized pump and detected by a linearly polarized probe at wavelengths from 800 to 830 nm. Analytical expressions are derived to explain the mechanism, which is in good agreement with the numerical computation and the experimental data. The results suggest that the Kerr signal can ...     

非线性克尔效应对飞秒激光偏振的超快调制

研究了近红外飞秒激光的偏振在太赫兹频率的超快调制.利用抽运-探测光谱技术,通过改变两个脉冲之间的延迟时间可以控制光脉冲的旋转角.在Li：NaTb（WO₄）₂磁光晶体中观察到探测光的偏振随延迟时间变化的高速振荡,振荡信号的中心频率为0.19 THz.这种超快偏振调制现象可以解释为,抽运-探测实验构置中,前向传播的抽运光诱导的光学克尔非线性引起被晶体远端表面所反射的背向传播的探测光脉冲偏振面的额外旋转.通过改变抽运光的圆偏振旋性可以控制探测光调制信号的相位和振幅.实验结果表明,非线性光学克尔效应可以作为一种全新的手段,在磁光晶体中实现近红外飞秒激光以太赫兹频率的超快偏振调控.这将在超快磁光调制器等全光器件中得以应用.实验结果将有助于偏振依赖的超快动力学过程的研究.     

Femtosecond magneto-optical processes in metals

Ultrafast magneto-optical techniques, using femtosecond laser pulses, are a powerful tool for investigating the magnetization dynamics in metallic materials. We review some recent developments in this field, which allow progress in the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that govern the magnetization changes in ferromagnetic structures. Some fundamental aspects of the magneto-optical response in the frequency and time domain are first considered. Then, we analyze the dynamics of the charges and spins following the optical excitation of quasiparticles in different ferromagnetic thin films. This dynamics is discussed by considering the processes that are involved in the ultrafast magneto-optical response.     

利用双色激光感生光栅光谱法测定^127I的核自旋

本文利用ＮｄＹＡＧ激光倍频光５３２ｎｍ激光分成强度大致相等的两束激光作为泵浦光以２．７３°交叉于碘分子样品室中，两束泵浦光发生干涉在碘分子中选择激发形成了空间正弦分布的激光态分子光栅和基态耗尽型光栅。另一束窄线宽染料激光作为探索光射入到激光感生光栅上，沿着布拉格衍射的方向接收信号光。利用泵浦共振为３２－０Ｒ（５５），探索共振为１３－０Ｐ（５５），Ｒ（５５）和泵浦共振为３２－０Ｐ（５２），探索共振为１３－０Ｐ（５２），Ｒ（５２）的碘分子双色激光感生光栅光谱谱线强度测定了１２７Ｉ的核自旋，测定值为５／２。     

All-optical logic gates with bacteriorhodopsin

All-optical logic gates with bacteriorhodopsin (bR) protein molecules have been demonstrated based on all-optical switching of a cw probe laser beam by multiple pulsed pump laser beams due to nonlinear intensity-induced excited-state absorption. A cw probe laser beam at 640 nm corresponding to the peak absorption of O-state in the bR photocycle is switched by a pulsed pump laser beam at 570 nm corresponding to the maximum initial B state absorption, at relatively low powers. The switching characteristics have been used to design all-optical NOT and the universal NOR and NAND logic gates and the effect of various parameters such as variation in pump pulse width, pump intensity, lifetime of O state and absorption cross-section of the B state at probe wavelength on the switching characteristics has been analyzed.     

Structure and property changes and femtosecond laser-induced magnetization dynamics of two-year-old high coercive TbFeCo films

An uncoated TbFeCo film on glass substrate exposed to dry air for 2 years is studied using magneto-optical polar Kerr spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The out-of-plane hysteresis loop by VSM is found to become slanted and meanwhile, an in-plane loop is also observable. The Kerr loop measured from the exposed surface is also slanted compared to that measured from the substrate-contacted surface, which indicates that the exposed surface is oxidized. So a bilayer structure of the film is proposed. When a pump laser is switched on, the Kerr loops measured from both surfaces at the delay time of −5 ps become anomalous, showing the occurrence of magnetization reversal across magnetization compensation temperature. Unlike that measured from the substrate-contacted surface, femtosecond laser-induced magnetization dynamics measured from the exposed surface does not show magnetization reversal crossing zero magnetization. This can be explained by the bilayer structure as the compensation effect of demagnetization recovery of the oxidized layer on magnetization reversal of perpendicularly anisotropic TbFeCo layer across magnetization compensation temperature. Above experimental results show that the uncoated TbFeCo film cannot resist oxidation in dry air at room temperature for 2 years while the SiO₂-coated surface can do so for over 2 years.     

三维自散焦介质中光束聚焦的最佳参量选择

对三维自散焦介质中由交叉相位调制效应诱导的光束聚焦过程进行了系统研究,讨论了抽运光振幅、抽运光-信号光初始偏移和抽运光-信号光波长比三个参量对信号光聚焦过程的影响。根据自散焦介质中强抽运光诱导弱信号光聚焦满足抽运光与探测光模型,对传输方程进行了优化,大大减少了数值模拟运算时间。数值方法采用分布傅里叶方法。数值模拟结果表明：抽运光越强、抽运光-信号光波长比越大,信号光聚焦程度越大;抽运光-信号光初始偏移存在一个最佳值,使得光束聚焦达到最佳效果。通过参量最佳值的选择,可提高光束聚焦的效率。     

All-optical display using photoinduced anisotropy in a bacteriorhodopsin film

Photoinduced anisotropy in a bacteriorhodopsin film using the pump-probe method was investigated. A diode-pumped second-harmonic YAG laser was used as the pump beam, and three wavelengths, at lambda = 442, 532, 655 nm, from different lasers were used as probe beams. Without the pump beam, the probe light cannot transmit the analyzer to the detector. However, because of photoinduced anisotropy, a portion of the probe light is detected when the pump beam is present. Based on this property, we demonstrate a full-color all-optical display.     

Spin-flip processes and ultrafast magnetization dynamics in Co: Unifying the microscopic and macroscopic view of femtosecond magnetism

The femtosecond magnetization dynamics of a thin cobalt film excited with ultrashort laser pulses has been studied using two complementary pump-probe techniques, namely, spin-, energy-, and time-resolved photoemission and the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. Combining the two methods, it is possible to identify the microscopic electron spin-flip mechanisms responsible for the ultrafast macroscopic magnetization dynamics of the cobalt film. In particular, we show that electron-magnon excitation does not affect the overall magnetization even though it is an efficient spin-flip channel on the sub-200 fs time scale. Instead, we find experimental evidence for the relevance of Elliott-Yafet-type spin-flip processes for the ultrafast demagnetization taking place on a time scale of 300 fs.     

All optical switching in azo-polymer planar waveguide

In this paper all optical switching in planar methyl red doped poly (methyl methacrylate) (MR/PMMA) waveguide and the effects of different parameters on this process are presented. Switching was achieved by a 488 nm Ar ion laser (pump beam) on a 633 nm He-Ne laser (probe beam) when passed through the waveguide. The effect of temperature and pump intensity, polarization and chopping frequency on switching is investigated. The switching process is attributed to trans-cis-trans photoisomerization of azo dyes in the polymer host. By studying the absorption spectrum of the sample, it is shown that both pump and probe laser beams are effective on the switching process.     

Optimization of MO Bragg diffraction of guided optical waves by MSW in YIG films by using inclined magnetic bias field

We describe a new scheme of noncollinear interaction geometry for magneto-optical (MO) Bragg cells based on inelastic scattering of guided optical wave beams by magnetostatic waves in yttrium–iron–garnet (YIG) films. A great increase of the diffracted light intensity was obtained when using an inclined magnetization of the film, in the case when static in-plane magnetization component is directed along the light propagation direction. It is shown that the diffraction efficiency can be increased more than two times, at a specific value of the angle (≈35°) between the saturation magnetization vector and the normal to the film surface. The effect can be explained through a four-wave model of the diffraction process, which can take place in optical waveguides with MO gyrotropy. The results obtained by a simple analytical solution of the diffraction problem are found to be in good qualitative agreement with the experimental observations.     

超衍射极限相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微成像技术及其探测极限分析

理论上提出一种突破衍射极限限制的相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微成像方法, 并对其探测极限进行分析.通过引入环形附加探测光与艾里斑周边的声子作用, 实现点扩展函数的改造, 提高相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微成像系统的横向空间分辨率. 随着分辨率的提高, 信号强度也随之降低, 尤其当应用于生物学、医学研究时, 样品分子数密度通常很低, 这将导致信号探测更加困难. 因此分析系统的探测极限, 确定超分辨体积元内的最小可探测分子数是展开超衍射极限相干反斯 托克斯拉曼散射显微成像实验研究的重要前提. 当泵浦光、斯托克斯光、探测光光强均达到极大值, 分辨率约40 nm三维空间内, 超衍射极限相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微成像系统的散粒噪声信噪比由曝 光时间与样品分子数密度决定. 曝光时间若取20 ms, 探测极限约为10³, 样品分子数目只有大于探测极限, 才能保证信号可以从噪声背景中提取出来. 关键词： 突破衍射极限 相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射 非线性光学 探测极限     

Angularly resolved coherent Raman spectroscopy (ARCS)

This new crossed beam configuration produces an angularly separated Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman spectrum, eliminating the need for a spectrometer. Since one of the driving laser beams is always linearly opposed to the dye laser, it may also be used as a dye pump and the experiment performed within the dye cavity for efficient laser energy utilization. With this arrangement, a broad bandwidth dye laser produces a several wavenumber resolution spectrum from a small volume with relatively simple alignment. The spectrum is scanned by varying the incidence angle of the probe beam or taken is a single pulse using a fan shaped probe beam.