Ultrafast coherent all-optical switching of an antiferromagnet with the inverse Faraday effect

Abstract

We explore the possibility of ultrafast, coherent all-optical magnetization switching in antiferromagnets by studying the action of the inverse Faraday effect in CrPt, an easy-plane antiferromagnet. Using a combination of density functional theory and atomistic spin dynamics simulations, we show how a circularly polarized laser pulse can switch the order parameter of the antiferromagnet within a few hundred femtoseconds. This nonthermal switching takes place on an elliptical path, driven by the staggered magnetic moments induced by the inverse Faraday effect and leading to reliable switching between two perpendicular magnetic states.

6 pages, 6 figures

References in corpus (5)

• All-optical control of ferromagnetic thin films and nanostructures
• Spin Oscillations in Antiferromagnetic NiO Triggered by Circularly Polarized Light
• Switching times of nanoscale FePt: finite size effects on linear reversal mechanism
• Magnetization dynamics in dysprosium orthoferrites via inverse Faraday effect
• Model of damping and anisotropy at elevated temperatures: application to granular FePt films

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