Efficient ultrafast field-driven spin current generation for spintronic terahertz frequency conversion

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Igor Ilyakov - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Arne Brataas - , Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Author)
  • Thales V.A.G. de Oliveira - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Alexey Ponomaryov - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Jan Christoph Deinert - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Olav Hellwig - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Chemnitz University of Technology (Author)
  • Jürgen Faßbender - , Chair of Applied Solid State Physics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Jürgen Lindner - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Ruslan Salikhov - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Sergey Kovalev - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dortmund University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

Efficient generation and control of spin currents launched by terahertz (THz) radiation with subsequent ultrafast spin-to-charge conversion is the current challenge for the next generation of high-speed communication and data processing units. Here, we demonstrate that THz light can efficiently drive coherent angular momentum transfer in nanometer-thick ferromagnet/heavy-metal heterostructures. This process is non-resonant and does neither require external magnetic fields nor cryogenics. The efficiency of this process is more than one order of magnitude higher as compared to the recently observed THz-induced spin pumping in MnF2 antiferromagnet. The coherently driven spin currents originate from the ultrafast spin Seebeck effect, caused by a THz-induced temperature imbalance in electronic and magnonic temperatures and fast relaxation of the electron-phonon system. Owing to the fact that the electron-phonon relaxation time is comparable with the period of a THz wave, the induced spin current results in THz second harmonic generation and THz optical rectification, providing a spintronic basis for THz frequency mixing and rectifying components.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number7010
JournalNature communications
Volume14
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 37919284