Journal article
Many-Body Theory of Ultrafast Demagnetization and Angular Momentum Transfer in Ferromagnetic Transition Metals
Publication Details
Authors: | Töws, W.; Pastor, G. |
Publisher: | AMER PHYSICAL SOC |
Place: | ONE PHYSICS ELLIPSE, COLLEGE PK, MD 20740-3844 USA |
Publication year: | 2015 |
Journal: | Physical Review Letters |
Pages range : | 217204 |
Journal acronym: | Phys. Rev. Lett. |
Volume number: | 115 |
Issue number: | 21 |
ISSN: | 0031-9007 |
eISSN: | 1079-7114 |
DOI-Link der Erstveröffentlichung: |
Abstract
Exact calculated time evolutions in the framework of a many-electron model of itinerant magnetism provide new insights into the laser-induced ultrafast demagnetization observed in ferromagnetic ( FM) transition metal thin films. The interplay between local spin-orbit interactions and interatomic hopping is shown to be at the origin of the observed postexcitation breakdown of FM correlations between highly stable local magnetic moments. The mechanism behind spin-and angular-momentum transfer is revealed from a microscopic perspective by rigorously complying with all fundamental conservation laws. An energy-resolved analysis of the time evolution shows that the efficiency of the demagnetization process reaches almost 100\% in the excited states.
Exact calculated time evolutions in the framework of a many-electron model of itinerant magnetism provide new insights into the laser-induced ultrafast demagnetization observed in ferromagnetic ( FM) transition metal thin films. The interplay between local spin-orbit interactions and interatomic hopping is shown to be at the origin of the observed postexcitation breakdown of FM correlations between highly stable local magnetic moments. The mechanism behind spin-and angular-momentum transfer is revealed from a microscopic perspective by rigorously complying with all fundamental conservation laws. An energy-resolved analysis of the time evolution shows that the efficiency of the demagnetization process reaches almost 100\% in the excited states.
