Using laser-induced spin manipulation to build magnetic nanologic elements

Abstract

We present an ab initio theory of ultrafast nanologic elements and show that controlled spin manipulation is feasible with the inclusion of spin-orbit coupling in Λ-processes. We show that in branched metallic chains with three magnetic centers both spin flips and spin transfers are possible within a hundred femtoseconds. A static external magnetic field and the magnetic state of one magnetic center serve as input poles (input bits), while the magnetic state of the cluster after a controlled laser pulse can be mapped to the output. Combining laser-induced spin-manipulation scenarios we are able to construct the NAND logic. Thus multicenter magnetic clusters can extend spin dynamics to optically triggered and functionalized magnetic transport on a subpicosecond timescale and nanometer spatial scale.