Lattice dynamics and ultrafast energy flow between electrons, spins, and phonons in a 3d ferromagnet
The ultrafast dynamics of magnetic order in a ferromagnet are governed by the interplay between electronic, magnetic, and lattice degrees of freedom. In order to obtain a microscopic understanding of ultrafast demagnetization, information on the response of all three subsystems is required. A consis...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Physical Society
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Physical Review Research |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023032 |
| _version_ | 1827285760058851328 |
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| author | Daniela Zahn Florian Jakobs Yoav William Windsor Hélène Seiler Thomas Vasileiadis Tim A. Butcher Yingpeng Qi Dieter Engel Unai Atxitia Jan Vorberger Ralph Ernstorfer |
| author_facet | Daniela Zahn Florian Jakobs Yoav William Windsor Hélène Seiler Thomas Vasileiadis Tim A. Butcher Yingpeng Qi Dieter Engel Unai Atxitia Jan Vorberger Ralph Ernstorfer |
| author_sort | Daniela Zahn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ultrafast dynamics of magnetic order in a ferromagnet are governed by the interplay between electronic, magnetic, and lattice degrees of freedom. In order to obtain a microscopic understanding of ultrafast demagnetization, information on the response of all three subsystems is required. A consistent description of demagnetization and microscopic energy flow, however, is still missing. Here, we combine a femtosecond electron diffraction study of the ultrafast lattice response of nickel to laser excitation with ab initio calculations of the electron-phonon interaction and energy-conserving atomistic spin dynamics simulations. Our model is in agreement with the observed lattice dynamics and previously reported electron and magnetization dynamics. Our approach reveals that the spin system is the dominating heat sink in the initial few hundred femtoseconds and implies a transient nonthermal state of the spins. Our results provide a clear picture of the microscopic energy flow between electronic, magnetic, and lattice degrees of freedom on ultrafast timescales and constitute a foundation for theoretical descriptions of demagnetization that are consistent with the dynamics of all three subsystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:20:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10824d4c63a84ea286a44aada0b3859d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2643-1564 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:20:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Review Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-10824d4c63a84ea286a44aada0b3859d2024-04-12T17:09:03ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642021-04-013202303210.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023032Lattice dynamics and ultrafast energy flow between electrons, spins, and phonons in a 3d ferromagnetDaniela ZahnFlorian JakobsYoav William WindsorHélène SeilerThomas VasileiadisTim A. ButcherYingpeng QiDieter EngelUnai AtxitiaJan VorbergerRalph ErnstorferThe ultrafast dynamics of magnetic order in a ferromagnet are governed by the interplay between electronic, magnetic, and lattice degrees of freedom. In order to obtain a microscopic understanding of ultrafast demagnetization, information on the response of all three subsystems is required. A consistent description of demagnetization and microscopic energy flow, however, is still missing. Here, we combine a femtosecond electron diffraction study of the ultrafast lattice response of nickel to laser excitation with ab initio calculations of the electron-phonon interaction and energy-conserving atomistic spin dynamics simulations. Our model is in agreement with the observed lattice dynamics and previously reported electron and magnetization dynamics. Our approach reveals that the spin system is the dominating heat sink in the initial few hundred femtoseconds and implies a transient nonthermal state of the spins. Our results provide a clear picture of the microscopic energy flow between electronic, magnetic, and lattice degrees of freedom on ultrafast timescales and constitute a foundation for theoretical descriptions of demagnetization that are consistent with the dynamics of all three subsystems.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023032 |
| spellingShingle | Daniela Zahn Florian Jakobs Yoav William Windsor Hélène Seiler Thomas Vasileiadis Tim A. Butcher Yingpeng Qi Dieter Engel Unai Atxitia Jan Vorberger Ralph Ernstorfer Lattice dynamics and ultrafast energy flow between electrons, spins, and phonons in a 3d ferromagnet Physical Review Research |
| title | Lattice dynamics and ultrafast energy flow between electrons, spins, and phonons in a 3d ferromagnet |
| title_full | Lattice dynamics and ultrafast energy flow between electrons, spins, and phonons in a 3d ferromagnet |
| title_fullStr | Lattice dynamics and ultrafast energy flow between electrons, spins, and phonons in a 3d ferromagnet |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lattice dynamics and ultrafast energy flow between electrons, spins, and phonons in a 3d ferromagnet |
| title_short | Lattice dynamics and ultrafast energy flow between electrons, spins, and phonons in a 3d ferromagnet |
| title_sort | lattice dynamics and ultrafast energy flow between electrons spins and phonons in a 3d ferromagnet |
| url | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023032 |
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