Ultrafast magnetoacoustics in Galfenol nanostructures

Phonons and magnons are prospective information carriers to substitute the transfer of charge in nanoscale communication devices. Our ability to manipulate them at the nanoscale and with ultimate speed is examined by ultrafast acoustics and femtosecond optomagnetism, which use ultrashort laser pulses for generation and detection of the corresponding coherent excitations. Ultrafast magnetoacoustics merges these research directions and focuses on the interaction of optically generated coherent phonons and magnons. In this review, we present ultrafast magnetoacoustic experiments with nanostructures based on the alloy (Fe,Ga) known as Galfenol. We demonstrate how broad we can manipulate the magnetic response on an optical excitation by controlling the spectrum of generated coherent phonons and their interaction with magnons. Resonant phonon pumping of magnons, formation of magnon polarons, driving of a magnetization wave by a guided phonon wavepacket are demonstrated. The presented experimental results have great application potential in emerging areas of modern nanoelectronics.