No Arabic abstract
Laser-induced manipulation of magnetism at the nanoscale is a rapidly growing research topic with potential for applications in spintronics. In this work, we address the role of the scattering cross section, thermal effects, and laser fluence on the magnetic, structural, and chemical stability of individual magnetic nanoparticles excited by single femtosecond laser pulses. We find that the energy transfer from the fs laser pulse to the nanoparticles is limited by the Rayleigh scattering cross section, which in combination with the light absorption of the supporting substrate and protective layers determines the increase in the nanoparticle temperature. We investigate individual Co nanoparticles (8 to 20 nm in size) as a prototypical model system, using x-ray photoemission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy upon excitation with single femtosecond laser pulses of varying intensity and polarization. In agreement with calculations, we find no deterministic or stochastic reversal of the magnetization in the nanoparticles up to intensities where ultrafast demagnetization or all-optical switching is typically reported in thin films. Instead, at higher fluences, the laser pulse excitation leads to photo-chemical reactions of the nanoparticles with the protective layer, which results in an irreversible change in the magnetic properties. Based on our findings, we discuss the conditions required for achieving laser-induced switching in isolated nanomagnets.
Controlling the directionality of spin waves is a key ingredient in wave-based computing methods such as magnonics. In this paper, we demonstrate this particular aspect by using an all-optical point-like source of continuous spin waves based on frequency comb rapid demagnetization. The emitted spin waves contain a range of k-vectors and by detuning the applied magnetic field slightly off the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR), we observe X-shaped caustic spin-wave patterns at $70^{circ}$ propagation angles as predicted by theory. When the harmonic of the light source approaches theFMR, the caustic pattern gives way to uniaxial spin-wave propagation perpendicular to the in-plane component of the applied field. This field-controlled propagation pattern and directionality of optically emitted short-wavelength spin waves provide additional degrees of freedom when designing magnonic devices.
The specific mechanisms which leads to the formation of fractal nanostructures by pulsed laser deposition remain elusive despite intense research efforts, motivated mainly by the technological interest in obtaining tailored nanostructures with simple and scalable production methods. Here we focus on fractal nanostructures of titanium dioxide, $TiO_2$, a strategic material for many applications, obtained by femtosecond laser ablation at ambient conditions. We model the fractal formation through extensive Monte Carlo simulations based on a set of minimal assumptions: irreversible sticking and size independent diffusion. Our model is able to reproduce the fractal dimensions and the area distributions of the nanostructures obtained in the experiments for different densities of the ablated material. The comparison of theory and experiment show that such fractal aggregates are formed after landing of the ablated material on the substrate surface by a diffusive mechanism. Finally we discuss the role of the thermal conductivity of the substrate and the laser fluence on the properties of the fractal nanostructures. Our results represent an advancement towards controlling the production of fractal nanostructures by pulsed laser deposition.
We characterize the positively charged exciton (X1+) in single InGaAs quantum dots using resonant laser spectroscopy. Three samples with different dopant species (Be or C as acceptors, Si as a donor) are compared. The p-doped samples exhibit larger inhomogeneous broadening (x3) and smaller absorption contrast (x10) than the n-doped sample. For X1+ in the Be-doped sample, a dot dependent non-linear Fano effect is observed, demonstrating coupling to degenerate continuum states. However, for the C-doped sample the X1+ lineshape and saturation broadening follows isolated atomic transition behaviour. This C-doped device structure is useful for single hole spin initialization, manipulation, and measurement.
We discuss finite-difference time-domain simulations of femtosecond pulses interacting with silver nanowires and nanoparticles. We show how localized hot spots near the metal surfaces can be generated and controlled in a spatiotemporal manner. The control is made possible by chirping the pulses such that the effective frequency passes through surface plasmon resonances associated with different spatial regions of the nanostructure over the course of time. The response of such nanostructures to chirped pulses could provide a novel means of encoding or decoding optical signals.
Relaxation dynamics of embedded metal nanoparticles after ultrafast laser pulse excitation is driven by thermal phenomena of different origins the accurate description of which is crucial for interpreting experimental results: hot electron gas generation, electron-phonon coupling, heat transfer to the particle environment and heat propagation in the latter. Regardingthis last mechanism, it is well known that heat transport in nanoscale structures and/or at ultrashort timescales may deviate from the predictions of the Fourier law. In these cases heat transport may rather be described by the Boltzmann transport equation. We present a numerical model allowing us to determine the electron and lattice temperature dynamics in a spherical gold nanoparticle core under subpicosecond pulsed excitation, as well as that of the surrounding shell dielectric medium. For this, we have used the electron-phonon coupling equation in the particle with a source term linked with the laser pulse absorption, and the ballistic-diffusive equations for heat conduction in the host medium. Either thermalizing or adiabatic boundary conditions have been considered at the shell external surface. Our results show that the heat transfer rate from the particle to the matrix can be significantly smaller than the prediction of Fouriers law. Consequently, the particle temperature rise is larger and its cooling dynamics might be slower than that obtained by using Fouriers law. This difference is attributed to the nonlocal and nonequilibrium heat conduction in the vicinity of the core nanoparticle. These results are expected to be of great importance for analyzing pump-probe experiments performed on single nanoparticles or nanocomposite media.