A. Vaterlaus

An inverse transition of magnetic domain patterns in ultrathin films

Inverse freezing and inverse melting are processes where a more symmetric phase is found at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures. Such inverse transitions are very rare. Here we report the existence of an inverse transition effect in ultrathin Fe films that are magnetized perpendicular to the film plane. The magnetization of these films is not uniform, but instead manifests itself as stripe domains with opposite perpendicular magnetization. Predictions relating to the disordering of this striped ground state in the limit of monolayer film thicknesses are controversial. Mean-field arguments predict a continuous reduction of the stripe width when the temperature is increased; other studies suggest that topological defects, such as dislocations and disclinations, might penetrate the system and induce geometrical phase transitions. We find, from scanning electron microscopy imaging, that when the temperature is increased, the low-temperature stripe domain structure transforms into a more symmetric, labyrinthine structure. However, at even higher temperatures and before the loss of magnetic order, a re-occurrence of the less symmetric stripe phase is found. Despite the widespread theoretical and experimental work on striped systems, this phase sequence and the microscopic instabilities driving it have not been observed before.

Ultrathin magnetic particles

We have fabricated ultrathin Co particles with various shapes, variable thicknesses δ (2 ML<δ<22 ML), and lateral size L ranging from 100 μm to ≈100 nm. We find that all particles are magnetized in-plane at room temperature and are in a single domain state, independently of shape and size—with some remarkable exceptions. We also find that the magnetic state of a particle can be manipulated without influencing the state of the neighbors.

Exchange coupling of contacted ferromagnetic films: Fe on amorphous TbFe

A double-layer structure consisting of Fe on amorphous Tb/sub 20/Fe/sub 80/ has been investigated with spin-polarized photoemission as function of the thickness of the Fe film. For 40 AA no exchange coupling to the underlying TbFe is observed, whereas at 30 AA and less the TbFe magnetization affects significantly the magnetization of the Fe overlayer. Even for a 10-AA Fe film the vast majority of the photoelectrons is shown to originate from this layer. >

An ultrahigh vacuum scanning Kerr microscope

A new ultrahigh vacuum instrument allowing in situ Kerr microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy is described. The Kerr microscope has a spatial resolution of about 1 μm. First experimental results are reported on the magnetism of a 5 μm wide stripe consisting of six atomic layers of Fe grown in situ by molecular beam epitaxy on a W(110) surface.

Different spin and lattice temperatures observed by spin‐polarized photoemission with picosecond laser pulses

The spin polarization of the photoelectrons emitted from Sn and Fe during picosecond (ps) and nanosecond (ns) laser pulses is measured as function of the laser intensity. For Sn the optically induced spin polarization is defined through the lattice symmetry. No difference is found between ps and ns heating. From this it is concluded that the melting of a metal like tin occurs on a time scale which is short compared to the duration of a 70 ps laser pulse. In Fe the spin polarization probes the magnetic order. It is found that Fe cannot be demagnetized within the duration of a 30 ps laser pulse, even if the melting point is reached in the laser focus. During a ns laser pulse the spin system and the lattice are in thermal equilibrium.

Ground state magnetic properties of ultrathin fcc Fe and Co films on Cu(001) surfaces

We have grown by means of Molecular Beam Epitaxy ultrathin (1 to ∼ 10 ML) films of fcc Fe and Co on a Cu(001) surface, thus stabilizing this high temperature phase of bulk Fe and Co at room temperature. All films, including the single monolayers, are ferromagnetic. The Co films are magnetized in plane, independently on the thickness. Fe films thicker than 2 ML are magnetized along the film normal. Up to now, the statistical uncertainty is still too large to conclusively prove an enhancement of the magnetic moment for the thinnest Co films.

Ultrafast thermomagnetic writing processes in rare‐earth transition‐metal thin films

We use time‐resolved spin‐polarized photoemission to investigate thermomagnetic writing of domains in magneto‐optic media, focusing on the relaxation time of the magnetization and the dynamic behavior of the nucleation process. In our initial studies, we examine a 90‐nm‐thick GdTbFe film using a pulsed excimer laser (pulse duration: 16 ns) as the light source for the photoemission process. We find that the thermomagnetic switching behavior is different above and below the compensation temperature Tcomp. When the sample temperature is held above Tcomp, the spin polarization of the electrons emitted during the writing pulse has the sign of the initial state even though subsequent examination shows that a reversed magnetization domain has been formed. Therefore, the domain is thermomagnetically nucleated during the trailing edge of the 16 ns writing pulse or even later when the irradiated domain cools down. On the other hand, if the initial temperature is slightly below Tcomp, the electrons emitted during the writing pulse have reversed polarization showing that the reversal of the magnetization takes place quickly compared to the pulse duration. This difference shows that compensation‐point writing is much faster than Curie‐point writing. Based on these measurements we propose a model to interpret the different thermomagnetic switching processes which take place above and below Tcomp. The results can be explained by different thermal relaxation times between the excited electrons and the lattice and between the electrons and the spin system.We use time‐resolved spin‐polarized photoemission to investigate thermomagnetic writing of domains in magneto‐optic media, focusing on the relaxation time of the magnetization and the dynamic behavior of the nucleation process. In our initial studies, we examine a 90‐nm‐thick GdTbFe film using a pulsed excimer laser (pulse duration: 16 ns) as the light source for the photoemission process. We find that the thermomagnetic switching behavior is different above and below the compensation temperature Tcomp. When the sample temperature is held above Tcomp, the spin polarization of the electrons emitted during the writing pulse has the sign of the initial state even though subsequent examination shows that a reversed magnetization domain has been formed. Therefore, the domain is thermomagnetically nucleated during the trailing edge of the 16 ns writing pulse or even later when the irradiated domain cools down. On the other hand, if the initial temperature is slightly below Tcomp, the electrons emitted during th...

Ultrafast reduction of the total magnetization in iron

Surprisingly, if a ferromagnet is exposed to an ultrafast laser pulse, its apparent magnetization is reduced within less than a picosecond. Up to now, the total magnetization, i.e., the average spin polarization of the whole valence band, was not detectable on a sub-picosecond time scale. Here, we present experimental data, confirming the ultrafast reduction of the total magnetization. Soft x-ray pulses from the free electron laser in Hamburg (FLASH) extract polarized cascade photoelectrons from an iron layer excited by a femtosecond laser pulse. The spin polarization of the emitted electrons is detected by a Mott spin polarimeter.

Fe on W(110), a stable magnetic reference system

Time resolved pump probe experiments with ultra short infrared pump and x-ray photoemission probe pulses require a stable magnetic reference system with reproducible magnetic properties. In search of such a system we found in iron on tungsten an ideal sample. The coercive field of this system remains constant at 12.2±1 Oe between 15 and 25 monolayers. Kerr effect measurements and scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis images prove that the magnetization switches from single domain to single domain state. Capping with Au increases the coercive field and prevents the Fe layer from deterioration.

Ultrafast demagnetization by hot electrons: Diffusion or super-diffusion?

Ultrafast demagnetization of ferromagnetic metals can be achieved by a heat pulse propagating in the electron gas of a non-magnetic metal layer, which absorbs a pump laser pulse. Demagnetization by electronic heating is investigated on samples with different thicknesses of the absorber layer on nickel. This allows us to separate the contribution of thermalized hot electrons compared to non-thermal electrons. An analytical model describes the demagnetization amplitude as a function of the absorber thickness. The observed change of demagnetization time can be reproduced by diffusive heat transport through the absorber layer.