Spintronic Terahertz Research Articles

The effect of magnetic nanofilm morphology on spintronic terahertz emission performance

Femtosecond laser-driven spintronic terahertz (THz) emitters based on magnetic nanofilms are poised to be the next-generation mainstream THz radiation devices due to their low cost, high performance, ultra-broadband, and easy integration. The radiation performance of spintronic THz emitters is related to the material characteristics, heterostructure interfaces, pump laser, and magnetic field intensity. Additionally, the THz emission performance is greatly reliant on the material surface morphology. Here, we employed ultrafast THz scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy with nanoscale spatial resolution to obtain the static THz scattering nano-imaging of ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic heterostructures (W/Co20Fe60B20/IrMn3). We established the relationship between surface morphology and THz scattering intensity. Utilizing laser-induced THz emission technology, we achieve injection and detection of nanoscale ultrafast spin current without the external magnetic field. The strong consistency of the THz emission nanoscopy with the atomic force microscopy topography demonstrates that the sample surface morphology is critical to the THz radiation performance. This study serves as a valuable reference for the further optimization of spintronic THz emitters and promotes the development of high-performance, strong-field spintronic THz sources.

Surface plasmon resonance enhanced terahertz spin current emission in Au nanoparticles/ferromagnet thin film heterostructure

We present a design of an ultrafast spin current emitter utilizing the Au nanoparticles/Co/Pt heterostructures, which facilitate significant enhancement in terahertz radiation. Using Au nanoparticles synthesized by thermal annealing and embedded in Co/Pt bilayers, we show that the Au nanoparticles fulfill surface plasmon resonance conditions under the illumination of femtosecond laser pulses, and enhanced terahertz spin currents are generated in the Co thin film. The terahertz signal amplitude of Au nanoparticles/Co/Pt sample exhibits an enhancement of 70% and 45% compared to that observed in Au thin film/Co/Pt and Co/Pt samples, respectively. By integrating experimental analysis and numerical calculations, we ascribe the enhancement of terahertz emission amplitude to the contribution of spin current generated by surface plasmon resonance in the Co thin film, which may result from the magnetization enhancement induced by surface plasmon-excited electromagnetic fields at the Au nanoparticles/Co interface, and the plasmon-induced spin current density is approximately 1 × 1029 electrons s−1 m−2. This plasmon-induced spin current establishes a connection between the fields of plasmonic and spintronic physics, thereby promoting the development of spintronic terahertz emitters.

The fabrication and characterization of spintronic terahertz emitter using magnetic/non-magnetic bilayer with nanometer thickness

The fabrication and characterization of spintronic terahertz emitter using magnetic/non-magnetic bilayer with nanometer thickness

Theoretical Models for Performance Analysis of Spintronic THz Emitters

The terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum, spanning from 0.1 to 10 THz, offers unique opportunities for imaging, spectroscopy, and communication applications. However, the potential of THz technologies has been limited by the availability of efficient and versatile THz emitters. Spintronic THz emitters (STEs), leveraging the ultrafast dynamics of electron spins in magnetic materials, have emerged as a promising solution to this challenge. STEs offer significant advantages, including broad bandwidth, high power output, and room-temperature operation, positioning them at the forefront of THz technology development. Despite these advances, understanding the operational principles and improving the performance of STEs remain areas of active research. This review focuses on the theoretical models that describe the behavior of STEs, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the underlying physics and suggest directions for future enhancements. Through a detailed examination of these models, the review seeks to clarify the basics of the physics driving STE performance and highlight innovative strategies for their optimization and application expansion.

Efficient Orbitronic Terahertz Emission Based on CoPt Alloy.

Orbitronic devices operate by manipulating orbitally polarized currents. Recent studies have shown that these orbital currents can be excited by femtosecond laser pulses in a ferromagnet such as Ni and converted into ultrafast charge currents via orbital-to-charge conversion. However, the terahertz emission from orbitronic terahertz emitters based on Ni is still much weaker than that of the typical spintronic terahertz emitter. Here, this work reports a more efficient light-induced generation of orbital current from a CoPt alloy, and the terahertz emission from CoPt/Cu/MgO is comparable to that of benchmark spintronic terahertz emitters. By varying the composition of the CoPt alloy, the thickness of Cu, and the capping layer, this work confirms that THz emission primarily originates from the orbital accumulation generated within CoPt, propagating through Cu, followed by subsequent orbital-to-charge conversion due to the inverse orbital Rashba-Edelstein effect at the Cu/MgO interface. This study provides strong evidence for the efficient orbital current generation in CoPt alloy, paving the way for efficient orbital terahertz emitters.

Optical damage thresholds of single-mode fiber-tip spintronic terahertz emitters

Spintronic terahertz emitters (STEs) are gapless, ultrabroadband terahertz sources that can be driven within a wide pump-wavelength and repetition-rate range. While STEs driven by strong pump lasers operating at kilohertz repetition rates excel in generating high electric field strengths for terahertz spectroscopy or ellipsometry, newly advancing technologies such as ultrafast modulation of terahertz polarization, scanning tunneling microscopy, laser terahertz emission nanoscopy, and fully fiber-coupled integrated systems demand an STE pumping at megahertz repetition rates. In all these applications the available terahertz power is ultimately limited by the STE’s optical damage threshold. However, to date, only very few publications have targeted this crucial topic and investigations beyond the kilohertz repetition-rate regime are missing. Here, we present a complete study of our single-mode fiber-tip STEs’ optical damage thresholds covering the kilohertz, megahertz, and gigahertz repetition-rate regimes as well as continuous-wave irradiation. As a very important finding, we introduce the necessity of classifying the optical damage threshold into two regimes: a low-repetition-rate regime characterized by a nearly constant fluence threshold, and a high-repetition-rate regime characterized by an antiproportional fluence dependence ("average-power threshold"). For our single-mode fiber-tip STEs, the transition between these regimes occurs around 4 MHz. Moreover, we present a cohesive theory of the damaging thermodynamical processes at play and identify temperature-driven inter-layer diffusion as the primary cause of the STE failure. These findings are substantiated by atomic force microscopy, infrared scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy measurements. This new level of understanding offers a clear optimization lever and provides valuable support for future advancements in the promising field of spintronic terahertz emission.

Topologically influenced terahertz emission in Co2MnGa with a large anomalous Hall effect

The terahertz (THz) spectral zone is one of the most exciting but least explored domains of the electromagnetic spectrum. To extend the applicability of THz waves, the present objective is to develop an efficient, compact, durable, and low-cost THz emitter source. A spintronic THz emitter consisting of a ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic bilayer heterostructure is a promising innovation that can provide an alternative solution/replacement for conventional THz emitters. To further develop these spin-based THz emitters, we demonstrate an efficient and strong THz emission from a single layer of Co2MnGa with a large anomalous Hall effect (AHE) influenced by its Weyl semimetallic nature. Strong correlations among the THz emission, AHE, and chemical ordering of the full Heusler crystal structures for Co2MnGa are shown. Based on proper structural and chemical design, the topological nature of this material facilitates systematic optimization. Our initial findings provide a new design concept for the topological influences on spin-based THz emitters, and these emitters are expected to facilitate the further development of the intriguing Weyl physics.

Multi-plane imaging based on cascade spintronic terahertz emitters with curved substrates

As a novel terahertz (THz) source, a spintronic THz emitter (STE) has become a research hot topic recently due to its ultra-broadband emission, powerful scalability, simple fabrication, and ultrawide pump-wavelength range. To optimize the performance of a STE, its spintronic heterostructure has been extensively investigated and its accessories have been also appropriately improved. In this work, a curved substrate of a STE was proposed and utilized to achieve the modulation of the THz wave front as a new degree of freedom. A STE with a neutral-meniscus substrate was designed and fabricated to attain the focusing function of the emitted THz radiation. Coaxial THz bi-focus with a non-overlapping spatio-temporal distribution were effectively generated and applied in multi-plane imaging by properly using two cascade STEs. Amplitude- and phase-type objects consisting of bilayer structures were measured by the scheme. The focused and defocused regions of the samples were distinguished and analyzed on different cross sections. Furthermore, a STE with a spiral stair substrate was manufactured in this way and the generation of a THz vortex beam was fulfilled. The convenient approach offered more possibilities for developing THz optospintronic devices.

Reconfigurable Chiral Spintronic THz Emitters

AbstractCollective spin arrangements manifest diverse spin textures, encompassing ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, and chiral vortices. However, mapping these spin textures in ultrathin magnetic multilayers has remained elusive. A reconfigurable chiral spintronic terahertz emission method is introduced through investigations on a model system of synthetic antiferromagnet and the spin information of individual ferromagnet (FM) layers is extracted. Upon femtosecond photoexcitation of the synthetic antiferromagnet (FM1/Ru/FM2), the ferromagnets generate a pair of linearly polarized ultrafast spin currents, which, after relaxation at the FM/Ru interface, emit corresponding THz pulses. The Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interactions between the two FMs give rise to magnetic‐field‐controlled spin textures causing a spin relaxation imbalance at the interfaces and induce a phase shift between the orthogonal components of the emitted terahertz fields, consequently reconfiguring the polarization of the emitted terahertz field from linear to circular. This approach offers a novel means of investigating electronic and magnetic states in ultrathin spintronic heterostructures, low‐dimensional quantum materials, topological insulators, and Weyl semimetals. Furthermore, it enables the exploration of spin textures, including skyrmions, merons, and solitons.

Polarization characteristics of Ni/Pt-based spintronic terahertz emitters based on spin electron dynamics

We report on the terahertz (THz) emission polarization characteristics of spintronic nickel/platinum (Ni/Pt) bilayer films. The films were deposited on MgO substrates via electron beam deposition with varying Ni thicknesses of 5, 7, and 9 nm and a constant Pt thickness of 6 nm. Results from B-field polarity-dependent THz measurements exhibited different THz emission characteristics for the p- and s-polarized components. We attribute the strong, wide-bandwidth B-field dependent p-polarized component to the inverse spin Hall effect and the weak, low-bandwidth B-field independent s-polarized component to the ultrafast demagnetization process. The peak-to-peak THz emission amplitudes were demonstrated to be dependent on the sample rotational angle about the optical axis which suggests sample inhomogeneity from the deposited Ni/Pt spintronic films. These results are crucial for the material design and development of more intense spintronic THz sources.

Temperature-Dependent Spin-to-Charge Conversion and Efficient Manipulation of Elliptical THz Waves in Bi2Te3/TbFeCo Heterostructures.

Topological insulators (TIs) with spin-momentum-locked surface states and considerable spin-to-charge conversion (SCC) efficiency are ideal substitutes for the nonmagnetic layer in the traditional ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic (FM/NM) spintronic terahertz (THz) emitters. Here, the TI/ferrimagnetic structure as an effective polarization tunable THz source is verified by terahertz emission spectroscopy. The emitted THz electric field can be separated into two THz components utilizing their opposite symmetry on pump polarization and the magnetic field. TI not only emits a THz electric field via the linear photogalvanic effect (LPGE) but also serves as the medium of SCC via the inverse Edelstein effect (IEE) in the heterostructure. In addition, the amplitude and polarity of the SCC component can be efficiently manipulated by temperature in our ferrimagnetic TbFeCo layer compared with Co or Fe. Once these two THz components are delicately set orthogonally, an elliptical THz wave is generated by the intrinsic phase difference at the THz frequency range. The feasible control of its polarization and chirality is demonstrated by three means: pump polarization, magnetic field, and temperature. These appealing observations may pave the way for the development of elliptical THz wave emitters and polarization-sensitive THz spectroscopy.

Radiation hardness of ultrabroadband spintronic terahertz emitters: En-route to a space-qualified terahertz time-domain gas spectrometer

The radiation hardness of ultrabroadband spintronic terahertz emitters against γ and proton irradiation is investigated. We find that irradiation doses equivalent to those experienced by a space instrument en-route to and operated on Mars have a minor effect on the performance of the emitters. In particular, the ultrawide emission spectrum ranging from 0.1–30 THz, which covers a large part of the vibrational fingerprint region, remains unchanged. These results make this emitter type highly interesting as an essential building block for broadband gas sensors based on terahertz time-domain spectroscopy for future space missions.

Terahertz emission from spin to charge conversion in type-II dirac semimetal PtTe2/ferromagnet heterostructure

An emerging type-II Dirac semimetal PtTe2 exhibits a large potential for spintronic devices due to the high conductivity, high mobility, and good air stability. However, there are few reports on the terahertz emission phenomena in PtTe2 films, which may prohibit the practical application in the future. Here, we successfully prepared high quality two-dimensional (2D) materials PtTe2 and combined it with ferromagnet Fe into heterostructure. Then the spintronic terahertz (THz) emission characteristics of PtTe2/Fe heterostructure excited by ultrafast femtosecond laser were investigated. Our work provides a novel material strategy for spintronic devices, paving the way for researching next-generation optospintronic devices.

Terahertz Radiation – the Dawn of a New Information Era

This mini-review article explores the evolution of wireless communication technologies, emphasizing the crucial role played by advancements in information transfer over long distances with minimal errors. Tracing developments from submergible cables to the current 5G technology, the review discusses the potential of 6G, offering insights into the transformative applications it could enable, such as holographic real-time communication and autonomous transport infrastructure. Exploring the applications of Terahertz (THz) frequencies, the article presents the limitations of current wireless speeds and proposes solutions, including the use of spintronic terahertz emitters (STEs) and antiferromagnetic materials, concluding on the challenges and prospects of integrating these technologies into practical applications.

Оптимизация оптического поглощения в спинтронных терагерцовых излучателях с использованием брэгговских отражателей

An optimized design of a spintronic terahertz emitter has been developed, based on a bilayer Co/Pt structure with an integrated distributed Bragg reflector. The incorporation of the Bragg mirror between the Co/Pt structure and the silicon substrate enhances optical absorption in the ferromagnetic layer, thereby amplifying spin current generation and, consequently, THz signal. A model was developed for calculating the optical absorption in the ferromagnetic layer of the spintronic emitter, taking into account the parameters of the Bragg mirror (layer thicknesses, period) based on the superlattice structure [TiO2/SiO2]N. This model is grounded on the solution of Maxwell's equations for electromagnetic waves using the COMSOL Multiphysics software. The effect of anti-reflective dielectric coatings on the level of optical absorption in the ferromagnetic layer was also analyzed. The study confirmed that using the optimized Bragg mirror is sufficient for achieving optimal absorption.

Spintronic terahertz metasurface emission characterized by scanning near-field nanoscopy

Abstract Understanding the ultrafast excitation, detection, transportation, and manipulation of nanoscale spin dynamics in the terahertz (THz) frequency range is critical to developing spintronic THz optoelectronic nanodevices. However, the diffraction limitation of the sub-millimeter waves – THz wavelengths – has impaired experimental investigation of spintronic THz nano-emission. Here, we present an approach to studying laser THz emission nanoscopy from W|CoFeB|Pt metasurfaces with ∼60-nm lateral spatial resolution. When comparing with statistic near-field THz time-domain spectroscopy with and without the heterostructures on fused silica substrates, we find that polarization- and phase-sensitive THz emission nanoscopy is more sensitive than the statistic THz scattering intensity nanoscopy. Our approach opens explorations of nanoscale ultrafast THz spintronic dynamics in optically excited metasurfaces.

Multifield-Modulated Spintronic Terahertz Emitter Based on a Vanadium Dioxide Phase Transition.

The efficient generation and active modulation of terahertz (THz) waves are strongly required for the development of various THz applications such as THz imaging/spectroscopy and THz communication. In addition, due to the increasing degree of integration for the THz optoelectronic devices, miniaturizing the complex THz system into a compact unit is also important and necessary. Today, integrating the THz source with the modulator to develop a powerful, easy-to-adjust, and scalable or on-chip THz emitter is still a challenge. As a new type of THz emitter, a spintronic THz emitter has attracted a great deal of attention due to its advantages of high efficiency, ultrawide band, low cost, and easy integration. In this study, we have proposed a multifield-modulated spintronic THz emitter based on the VO2/Ni/Pt multilayer film structure with a wide band region of 0-3 THz. Because of the pronounced phase transition of the integrated VO2 layer, the fabricated THz emitter can be efficiently modulated via thermal or electric stimuli with a modulation depth of about one order of magnitude; the modulation depths under thermal stimulation and electrical stimulation were 91.8% and 97.3%, respectively. It is believed that this multifield modulated spintronic THz emitter will provide various possibilities for the integration of next-generation on-chip THz sources and THz modulators.

Spintronic terahertz emitters with integrated metallic terahertz cavities

Abstract Spintronic terahertz emitters (STEs), based on optical excitation of nanometer thick ferromagnetic/heavy metal (FM/HM) heterojunctions, have become important sources for the generation of terahertz (THz) pulses. However, the efficiency of the optical-to-THz conversion remains limited. Although optical techniques have been developed to enhance the optical absorption, no investigations have studied the application of THz cavities. Here, to enhance the THz efficiency of STEs in a selected THz spectral range, FM/HM structures are realized on ultra-thin sapphire layers with metallic mirrors to create λ/4 THz resonant cavities. THz emission time domain spectroscopy of these STE/sapphire/mirror heterostructures, with sapphire thicknesses ranging from 110 µm to 25 µm, shows enhancement of the emitted THz field that fits the λ/4 cavity resonance with up to a doubling of the field in the spectrum, and in agreement with temporal simulations of the emitted THz pulse. By taking advantage of birefringent materials, we further show the potential of control of the polarization state of the emitted THz pulse. This work shows the potential of enhancing and engineering THz emission from STEs using THz cavities that can be controlled over a broad spectral range, which can be easily combined with optical cavities.

Actively switchable spintronic terahertz emission with arbitrary polarization states

Flexible manipulation of the polarization state is essential for the practical application of terahertz (THz) waves in many fields. However, the lack of effective, high-quality polarization-tunable THz sources hinders the further development of THz technology. Here, we demonstrate an actively switchable spintronic THz source with polarization states among linear, circular, and elliptical states in the CoFeB/Pt/SiO2(sub)/Ta/Co/IrMn structure by using the antiferromagnet/ferromagnet exchange bias effect, as well as a temporary magnetic field to combine the magnetization directions, and designing the thickness of the substrate to achieve a suitable phase difference. In addition, the chirality, ellipticity, and azimuth of the THz waves can be manipulated arbitrarily by controlling the magnetization combination. More importantly, using rotating motors and electromagnets enables fully automated operations. This highly efficient, polarization-tunable THz source meets most of the existing needs, and its low cost and small size make it more suitable for integration into various devices. It paves the way for accelerating THz spintronic devices and unveiling mechanisms in condensed matter physics.

Highly Efficient Spintronic Terahertz Emitter Utilizing a Large Spin Hall Conductivity of Type-II Dirac Semimetal PtTe2.

The remarkable spin-charge interconversion ability of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) makes them promising candidates for spintronic applications. Nevertheless, their potential as spintronic terahertz (THz) emitters (STEs) remains constrained mainly due to their sizable resistivity and low spin Hall conductivity (SHC), which consequently result in modest THz emission. In this work, the TMD PtTe2, a type-II Dirac semimetal is effectively utilized to develop efficient STEs. This high efficiency primarily results from the large SHC of PtTe2, stemming from its low resistivity and significant spin-to-charge conversion efficiency, attributed to surface states and the local Rashba effect in addition to the inverse spin Hall effect. Remarkably, the peak THz emission from PtTe2/Co-STE exceeds that of Pt/Co-STE by ∼15% and is nearly double that of a similarly thick Pt/Co-STE. The efficient THz emission in the PtTe2/Co heterostructure opens new possibilities for utilizing the semimetal TMDs for developing THz emitters.