Abstract
We report on optically induced, ultrafast magnetization dynamics in the Heusler alloy ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}\mathrm{FeAl}$, probed by time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. Experimental results are compared to results from electronic structure theory and atomistic spin-dynamics simulations. Experimentally, we find that the demagnetization time (${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{M}$) in films of ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}\mathrm{FeAl}$ is almost independent of varying structural order, and that it is similar to that in elemental $3d$ ferromagnets. In contrast, the slower process of magnetization recovery, specified by ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{R}$, is found to occur on picosecond time scales, and is demonstrated to correlate strongly with the Gilbert damping parameter ($\ensuremath{\alpha}$). Based on these results we argue that for ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}\mathrm{FeAl}$ the remagnetization process is dominated by magnon dynamics, something which might have general applicability.
Highlights
We report on optically induced, ultrafast magnetization dynamics in the Heusler alloy Co2FeAl, probed by time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect
Half-metals ideally exhibit 100% spin-polarization at the Fermi level. This exclusive property makes them candidates to be incorporated in spintronic devices, e.g. spin filters, tunnel junctions and giant magneto-resistance (GMR) devices [28,29,30,31]
Heusler alloys are appealing for spintronic applications due to the low Gilbert damping, which allows for a long magnon diffusion length [34,35,36,37,38,39]
Summary
We report on optically induced, ultrafast magnetization dynamics in the Heusler alloy Co2FeAl, probed by time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. We have made element specific investigations of the ultrafast magnetization dynamics of a half-metallic Heusler alloy.
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