A tabletop setup for ultrafast helicity-dependent and element-specific absorption spectroscopy and scattering in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range

Further advances in the field of ultrafast magnetization dynamics require experimental tools to measure the spin and electron dynamics with element-specificity and femtosecond temporal resolution. We present a new laboratory setup for two complementary experiments with light in the extreme ultraviol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of scientific instruments 2020-09, Vol.91 (9), p.093001-093001
Main Authors: Yao, Kelvin, Willems, Felix, von Korff Schmising, Clemens, Strüber, Christian, Hessing, Piet, Pfau, Bastian, Schick, Daniel, Engel, Dieter, Gerlinger, Kathinka, Schneider, Michael, Eisebitt, Stefan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Dichroism
Electron spin
Harmonic generations
Helicity
Iron
Laboratories
Multilayers
Nickel
Phase shifters
Polarization
Scattering
Scientific apparatus & instruments
Signal to noise ratio
Spatial data
Spectrum analysis
Spin dynamics
Temporal resolution
Transition metals
Ultraviolet spectra
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Summary:Further advances in the field of ultrafast magnetization dynamics require experimental tools to measure the spin and electron dynamics with element-specificity and femtosecond temporal resolution. We present a new laboratory setup for two complementary experiments with light in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectral range. One experiment is designed for polarization-dependent transient spectroscopy, particularly for simultaneous measurements of magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) at the 3p resonances of the 3d transition metals Fe, Co, and Ni. The second instrument is designed for resonant small-angle scattering experiments with monochromatic light allowing us to monitor spin dynamics with spatial information on the nanometer scale. We combine a high harmonic generation (HHG) source with a phase shifter to obtain XUV pulses with variable polarization and a flux of about (3 ± 1) × 1010 photons/s/harmonic at 60 eV at the source. A dedicated reference spectrometer effectively reduces the intensity fluctuations of the HHG spectrum to below 0.12% rms. We demonstrate the capabilities of the setup by capturing the energy- and polarization-dependent absorption of a thin Co film as well as the time-resolved small-angle scattering in a magnetic-domain network of a Co/Pt multilayer. The new laboratory setup allows systematic studies of optically induced spin and electron dynamics with element-specificity, particularly with MCD as the contrast mechanism with femtosecond temporal resolution and an unprecedented signal-to-noise ratio.
ISSN:0034-6748
1089-7623
DOI:10.1063/5.0013928