Structural and magnetic dynamics of a laser induced phase transition in FeRh

We use time-resolved x-ray diffraction and magneto-optical Kerr effect to study the laser-induced antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition in FeRh. The structural response is given by the nucleation of independent ferromagnetic domains (τ(1)~30 ps). This is significantly faster than the m...

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Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 108; no. 8; p. 087201
Main Authors Mariager, S O, Pressacco, F, Ingold, G, Caviezel, A, Möhr-Vorobeva, E, Beaud, P, Johnson, S L, Milne, C J, Mancini, E, Moyerman, S, Fullerton, E E, Feidenhans'l, R, Back, C H, Quitmann, C
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 21.02.2012
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Summary:We use time-resolved x-ray diffraction and magneto-optical Kerr effect to study the laser-induced antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition in FeRh. The structural response is given by the nucleation of independent ferromagnetic domains (τ(1)~30 ps). This is significantly faster than the magnetic response (τ(2)~60 ps) given by the subsequent domain realignment. X-ray diffraction shows that the two phases coexist on short time scales and that the phase transition is limited by the speed of sound. A nucleation model describing both the structural and magnetic dynamics is presented.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.108.087201