Laser-induced topological spin switching in a 2D van der Waals magnet.

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) magnets represent one of the most promising horizons for energy-efficient spintronic applications because their broad range of electronic, magnetic and topological properties. However, little is known about the interplay between light and spin properties in vdW layers. Here we show that ultrafast laser excitation can not only generate different type of spin textures in CrGeTe3 vdW magnets but also induce a reversible transformation between them in a topological toggle switch mechanism. Our atomistic spin dynamics simulations and wide-field Kerr microscopy measurements show that different textures can be generated via high-intense laser pulses within the picosecond regime. The phase transformation between the different topological spin textures is obtained as additional laser pulses are applied to the system where the polarisation and final state of the spins can be controlled by external magnetic fields. Our results indicate laser-driven spin textures on 2D magnets as a pathway towards reconfigurable topological architectures at the atomistic level.

All-optical control of spin in a 2D van der Waals magnet.

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals magnets provide new opportunities for control of magnetism at the nanometre scale via mechanisms such as strain, voltage and the photovoltaic effect. Ultrafast laser pulses promise the fastest and most energy efficient means of manipulating electron spin and can be utilized for information storage. However, little is known about how laser pulses influence the spins in 2D magnets. Here we demonstrate laser-induced magnetic domain formation and all-optical switching in the recently discovered 2D van der Waals ferromagnet CrI3. While the magnetism of bare CrI3 layers can be manipulated with single laser pulses through thermal demagnetization processes, all-optical switching is achieved in nanostructures that combine ultrathin CrI3 with a monolayer of WSe2. The out-of-plane magnetization is switched with multiple femtosecond pulses of either circular or linear polarization, while single pulses result in less reproducible and partial switching. Our results imply that spin-dependent interfacial charge transfer between the WSe2 and CrI3 is the underpinning mechanism for the switching, paving the way towards ultrafast optical control of 2D van der Waals magnets for future photomagnetic recording and device technology.

Transition Metal Synthetic Ferrimagnets: Tunable Media for All-Optical Switching Driven by Nanoscale Spin Current.

All-optical switching of magnetization has great potential for use in future ultrafast and energy efficient nanoscale magnetic storage devices. So far, research has been almost exclusively focused on rare-earth based materials, which limits device tunability and scalability. Here, we show that a perpendicularly magnetized synthetic ferrimagnet composed of two distinct transition metal ferromagnetic layers, Ni3Pt and Co, can exhibit helicity independent magnetization switching. Switching occurs between two equivalent remanent states with antiparallel alignment of the Ni3Pt and Co magnetic moments and is observable over a broad temperature range. Time-resolved measurements indicate that the switching is driven by a spin-polarized current passing through the subnanometer Ir interlayer. The magnetic properties of this model system may be tuned continuously via subnanoscale changes in the constituent layer thicknesses as well as growth conditions, allowing the underlying mechanisms to be elucidated and paving the way to a new class of data storage devices.

A platform for time-resolved scanning Kerr microscopy in the near-field.

Time-resolved scanning Kerr microscopy (TRSKM) is a powerful technique for the investigation of picosecond magnetization dynamics at sub-micron length scales by means of the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE). The spatial resolution of conventional (focused) Kerr microscopy using a microscope objective lens is determined by the optical diffraction limit so that the nanoscale character of the magnetization dynamics is lost. Here we present a platform to overcome this limitation by means of a near-field TRSKM that incorporates an atomic force microscope (AFM) with optical access to a metallic AFM probe with a nanoscale aperture at its tip. We demonstrate the near-field capability of the instrument through the comparison of time-resolved polar Kerr images of magnetization dynamics within a microscale NiFe rectangle acquired using both near-field and focused TRSKM techniques at a wavelength of 800 nm. The flux-closure domain state of the in-plane equilibrium magnetization provided the maximum possible dynamic polar Kerr contrast across the central domain wall and enabled an assessment of the magneto-optical spatial resolution of each technique. Line profiles extracted from the Kerr images demonstrate that the near-field spatial resolution was enhanced with respect to that of the focused Kerr images. Furthermore, the near-field polar Kerr signal (∼1 mdeg) was more than half that of the focused Kerr signal, despite the potential loss of probe light due to internal reflections within the AFM tip. We have confirmed the near-field operation by exploring the influence of the tip-sample separation and have determined the spatial resolution to be ∼550 nm for an aperture with a sub-wavelength diameter of 400 nm. The spatial resolution of the near-field TRSKM was in good agreement with finite element modeling of the aperture. Large amplitude electric field along regions of the modeled aperture that lie perpendicular to the incident polarization indicate that the aperture can support plasmonic excitations. The comparable near-field and focused polar Kerr signals suggest that such plasmonic excitations may lead to an enhanced near-field MOKE. This work demonstrates that near-field TRSKM can be performed without significant diminution of the polar Kerr signal in relatively large, sub-wavelength diameter apertures, while development of a near-field AFM probe utilizing plasmonic antennas specifically designed for measurements deeper into the nanoscale is discussed.

Macroscopic arrays of magnetic nanostructures from self-assembled nanosphere templates.

We have extended the widely used technique of nanosphere lithography to produce nanosphere templates with significantly improved long-range order. Single, ordered domains stretching over areas greater than 1 cm2 have been achieved by assembling spheres with the correct surface chemistry on a water/air interface. Self-assembly over macroscopic areas is facilitated by a combination of electrostatic and capillary forces. The presented technique is easily implemented, and the assembled monolayers can be transferred onto almost any surface, thus making the procedure applicable to a broad range of nanoscale research. We demonstrate this through the fabrication of hexagonally ordered, macroscopic arrays of magnetic nanostructures with modified magnetic properties.