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Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Published on: March 24, 2019
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Picosecond Spin Current Generation from Vicinal Metal-Antiferromagnetic Insulator Interfaces.
1National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for Nanotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, People's Republic of China.
Physical Review Letters
|May 10, 2024
Summary
We demonstrate picosecond spin current generation at room temperature using laser pulses on a vicinal antiferromagnet insulator interface. This spin current, converted to terahertz emission, originates from interfacial symmetry breaking, opening new avenues in ultrafast spintronics.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Spintronics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Antiferromagnetic materials offer potential for advanced spintronic devices due to their fast dynamics and robustness.
- Ultrafast spin current generation is crucial for high-speed information processing.
- Interface engineering is key to controlling spin dynamics in heterostructures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate picosecond spin current generation at the interface between a heavy metal and a vicinal antiferromagnetic insulator (Cr2O3).
- To explore the role of interfacial symmetry breaking in generating and detecting spin currents.
- To establish a link between vicinal interfaces and ultrafast spin dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing laser pulses to excite the heavy metal/Cr2O3 interface at room temperature and zero magnetic field.
- Detecting terahertz emission generated via the inverse spin Hall effect in the heavy metal.
- Varying the vicinal angle of the Cr2O3 surface to study its influence on spin current generation.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated picosecond spin currents at the heavy metal/vicinal antiferromagnet insulator interface.
- Observed terahertz signals directly proportional to the vicinal angle, confirming its role.
- Attributed spin current origin to interfacial nonlinear magnetic-dipole difference-frequency generation.
- Proposed a model based on in-plane inversion symmetry breaking to explain observed terahertz intensities.
Conclusions:
- Vicinal interfaces in antiferromagnetic insulators are a viable source for ultrafast spin current generation.
- Interfacial symmetry breaking is a critical mechanism for generating transient magnetic moments and spin currents.
- This research provides a new pathway for developing novel antiferromagnetic and ultrafast spintronic devices.
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