TRR 360 Sonderseminar:

Texture-dependent all-optical magnetization switching in thin ferromagnetic films

Dinar Khusyainov

Texture-dependent all-optical magnetization switching in thin ferromagnetic films

Dinar Khusyainov

Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherland

Understanding spin dynamics at ever shorter time and length scales is one of the major challenges in fundamental and applied magnetism. This pursuit has led, in particular, to the discoveries of Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) and all-optical switching (AOS) of magnetization, while also motivating the development of large-scale facilities such as X-ray free-electron lasers.
In this talk, I will present a conceptually novel approach for exploring all-optical switching at the nanoscale by combining tabletop Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) with picosecond laser excitation. The potential of this approach is demonstrated through its application to helicity-dependent all-optical switching (HD-AOS) in ferromagnetic Pt/Co/Pt films [1]. I will show how the nanotexture of laser-induced domains modifies the energy landscape, thereby enhancing the interaction between circularly polarized light and spins. As an outlook, I will present recent results from Lorentz transmission electron microscopy studies of laser-induced domains in thin ferromagnetic films, highlighting their topology.

[1] D. Khusyainov et al., Nat. Mater. (2026).