Laser melting and quenching effects on magnetic domains in quasi-two-dimensional ferromagnetic Cr5Te8 crystal

Abstract

By utilizing magneto-optical microscopy combined with the polar magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) techniques, the photo-induced melting and quenching effects on magnetic domains in a quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) ferromagnetic Cr5Te8 crystal were investigated. With irradiation of a pulsed laser, the magnetic domain of the Cr5Te8 crystal can be melted at a critical laser power density (2.55 × 108 mW/cm2), which has been confirmed by both MOKE images and curves. Moreover, it is intriguing to find that after laser melting and quenching, the dendritic type domains of the Cr5Te8 crystal are broken and the regrown spherical type domains are isolated from the original dendrites. Simultaneously, the magnetization behavior as a function of external field was modulated. These findings suggest that laser melting and quenching is an effective technique to tailor the magnetic domains in quasi-2D magnets and it provides a viable route in the creation of optical spintronic devices.