Optical control of the magnetization on the picosecond timescale

A 9 ps long laser pulse (energy: 10 nJ, spot diameter: 25 µm) is used to thermally control the magnetization of a NiFe/FeMn exchange bias bilayer system on the ps-time scale. The short laser pulse creates a hot phonon/spin gas. Consequently the exchange coupling across the interface between the ferro- and antiferromagnetic layer is reduced within 20 ps. This fast reduction of the exchange coupling is sensed by a time delayed probe pulse and analyzed with longitudinal magneto-optic Kerr effect. The time evolution of the exchange bias field in the easy magnetization direction and of the zero field suszeptibility in the hard magnetization direction is investigated. Within the first 20 ps a reduction of the exchange bias field of about 50 percent is observed. In addition a drastic increase of the zero field suszeptibility is found. The results can be understood concerning that the crystal lattice is heated close to the blocking temperature of the FeMn film (150°C). After the fast thermal reduction of the exchange coupling a slow recovery of the exchange bias field and the zero field suszeptibility is observed with a time constant of 170 ps.