Femtosecond coherent control of spins in (Ga,Mn)As ferromagnetic semiconductors using light

Using density matrix equations of motion, we predict a femtosecond collective spin tilt triggered by nonlinear, near-ultraviolet (approximately 3 eV), coherent photoexcitation of (Ga,Mn)As ferromagnetic semiconductors with linearly polarized light. This dynamics results from carrier coherences and n...

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Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 103; no. 4; p. 047404
Main Authors Kapetanakis, M D, Perakis, I E, Wickey, K J, Piermarocchi, C, Wang, J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 24.07.2009
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Summary:Using density matrix equations of motion, we predict a femtosecond collective spin tilt triggered by nonlinear, near-ultraviolet (approximately 3 eV), coherent photoexcitation of (Ga,Mn)As ferromagnetic semiconductors with linearly polarized light. This dynamics results from carrier coherences and nonthermal populations excited in the {111} equivalent directions of the Brillouin zone and triggers a subsequent uniform precession. We predict nonthermal magnetization control by tuning the laser frequency and polarization direction. Our mechanism explains recent ultrafast pump-probe experiments.
ISSN:0031-9007
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.047404