Direct observation of terahertz emission from ultrafast spin dynamics in thick ferromagnetic films

Abstract

We have experimentally investigated the field- and fluence-dependent terahertz (THz) emission behaviors by a femtosecond optical pump in Co ferromagnetic films, together with the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect measurement. The thickness of Co and Ta capping layers has been systematically varied. For thick films, THz emission behavior is found to be directly matched with the photoinduced ultrafast demagnetization and remagnetization dynamics. The angle-dependent THz emission measurement also confirms a direct relation between the THz emission and the photoinduced demagnetization/remagnetization dynamics in the case of thick films, while THz emission from the inverse spin Hall effect also plays a role in the case of thin Co films. © 2019 Author(s).