No Arabic abstract
Temperature-dependent magnetic experiments like pump-probe measurements generated by a pulsed laser have become a crucial technique for switching the magnetization in the picosecond time scale. Apart from having practical implications on the magnetic storage technology, the research field of ultrafast magnetization poses also fundamental physical questions. To correctly describe the time evolution of the atomic magnetic moments under the influence of a temperature-dependent laser pulse, it remains crucial to know if the magnetic material under investigation has magnetic excitation spectrum that is more or less dependent on the magnetic configuration, e.g. as reflected by the temperature dependence of the exchange interactions. In this article, we demonstrate from first-principles theory that the magnetic excitation spectra in Co with fcc, bcc and hcp structures are nearly identical in a wide range of non-collinear magnetic configurations. This is a curious result of a balance between the size of the magnetic moments and the strength of the Heisenberg exchange interactions, that in themselves vary with configuration, but put together in an effective spin Hamiltonian results in a configuration independent effective model. We have used such a Hamiltonian, together with ab-initio calculated damping parameters, to investigate the magnon dispersion relationship as well as the ultrafast magnetisation dynamics of Co and Co-rich CoMn alloys.
The finite-temperature magnetic properties of Fe$_x$Pd$_{1-x}$ and Co$_x$Pt$_{1-x}$ alloys have been investigated. It is shown that the temperature-dependent magnetic behaviour of alloys, composed of originally magnetic and non-magnetic elements, cannot be described properly unless the coupling between magnetic moments at magnetic atoms (Fe,Co) mediated through the interactions with induced magnetic moments of non-magnetic atoms (Pd,Pt) is included. A scheme for the calculation of the Curie temperature ($T_C$) for this type of systems is presented which is based on the extended Heisenberg Hamiltonian with the appropriate exchange parameters $J_{ij}$ obtained from {em ab-initio} electronic structure calculations. Within the present study the KKR Greens function method has been used to calculate the $J_{ij}$ parameters. A comparison of the obtained Curie temperatures for Fe$_x$Pd$_{1-x}$ and Co$_x$Pt$_{1-x}$ alloys with experimental data shows rather good agreement.
In the spirit of multi-scale modelling magnetization dynamics at elevated temperature is often simulated in terms of a spin model where the model parameters are derived from first principles. While these parameters are mostly assumed temperature-independent and thermal properties arise from spin fluctuations only, other scenarios are also possible. Choosing bcc Fe as an example, we investigate the influence of different kinds of model assumptions on ultra-fast spin dynamics, where following a femtosecond laser pulse a sample is demagnetized due to a sudden rise of the electron temperature. While different model assumptions do not affect the simulational results qualitatively, their details do depend on the nature of the modelling.
Recent investigations have advanced the understanding of how structure-property relationships in ferromagnetic metal alloys affect the magnetization dynamics on nanosecond time-scales. A similar understanding for magnetization dynamics on femto- to pico-second time-scales does not yet exist. To address this, we perform time-resolved magneto optic Kerr effect (TRMOKE) measurements of magnetization dynamics in Co-Fe alloys on femto- to nano-second regimes. We show that Co-Fe compositions that exhibit low Gilbert damping parameters also feature prolonged ultrafast demagnetization upon photoexcitation. We analyze our experimental TR-MOKE data with the three-temperature-model (3TM) and the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation. These analyses reveal a strong compositional dependence of the dynamics across all time-scales on the strength of electron-phonon interactions. Our findings are beneficial to the spintronics and magnonics community, and will aid in the quest for energy-efficient magnetic storage applications.
The temperature dependent stability of the magnetic phases of FeRh were investigated by means of total energy calculations with magnetic disorder treated within the uncompensated disordered local moment (uDLM) approach. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations based on the extended Heisenberg model have been performed, using exchange coupling parameters obtained rom first principles. The crucial role and interplay of two factors in the metamagnetic transition in FeRh has been revealed, namely the dependence of the Fe-Fe exchange coupling parameters on the temperature-governed degree of magnetic disorder in the system and the stabilizing nature of the induced magnetic moment on Rh-sites. An important observation is the temperature dependence of these two competing factors.
Yttrium iron garnet is a complex ferrimagnetic insulator with 20 magnon modes which is used extensively in fundamental experimental studies of magnetisation dynamics. As a transition metal oxide with moderate gap (2.8 eV), yttrium iron garnet requires a careful treatment of electronic correlation. We have applied quasiparticle self-consistent GW to provide a fully ab initio description of the electronic structure and resulting magnetic properties, including the parameterisation of a Heisenberg model for magnetic exchange interactions. Subsequent spin dynamical modelling with quantum statistics extends our description to the magnon spectrum and thermodynamic properties such as the Curie temperature, finding favourable agreement with experimental measurements. This work provides a snapshot of the state-of-the art in modelling of complex magnetic insulators.