Role of magnetic circular dichroism in all-optical magnetic recording

Using magneto-optical microscopy in combination with ellipsometry measurements, we show that all-optical switching with polarized femtosecond laser pulses in ferrimagnetic GdFeCo is subjected to a threshold fluence absorbed in the magnetic layer, independent of either the excitation wavelength or th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2012-03, Vol.108 (12), p.127205-127205, Article 127205
Main Authors: Khorsand, A R, Savoini, M, Kirilyuk, A, Kimel, A V, Tsukamoto, A, Itoh, A, Rasing, Th
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Using magneto-optical microscopy in combination with ellipsometry measurements, we show that all-optical switching with polarized femtosecond laser pulses in ferrimagnetic GdFeCo is subjected to a threshold fluence absorbed in the magnetic layer, independent of either the excitation wavelength or the polarization of the laser pulse. Furthermore, we present a quantitative explanation of the intensity window in which all-optical helicity-dependent switching (AO-HDS) occurs, based on magnetic circular dichroism. This explanation is consistent with all the experimental findings on AO-HDS so far, varying from single- to multiple-shot experiments. The presented results give a solid understanding of the origin of AO-HDS, and give novel insights into the physics of ultrafast, laser controlled magnetism.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.108.127205