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Published on: December 3, 2013
Competing Spin Transfer and Dissipation at Co/Cu(001) Interfaces on Femtosecond Timescales
J Chen1, U Bovensiepen1, A Eschenlohr1
1Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanointegration (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstraße 1, 47057 Duisburg, Germany.
Abstract:
By combining interface-sensitive nonlinear magneto-optical experiments with femtosecond time resolution and ab initio time-dependent density functional theory, we show that optically excited spin dynamics at Co/Cu(001) interfaces proceeds via spin-dependent charge transfer and back transfer between Co and Cu. This ultrafast spin transfer competes with dissipation of spin angular momentum mediated by spin-orbit coupling already on sub 100 fs timescales. We thereby identify the fundamental microscopic processes during laser-induced spin transfer at a model interface for technologically relevant ferromagnetic heterostructures.
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