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Ultrafast signatures of magnetic inhomogeneity in Pd1−xFex (x ≤ 0.08) epitaxial thin films
- Source :
- Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp 836-844 (2022)
- Publication Year :
- 2022
- Publisher :
- Beilstein-Institut, 2022.
-
Abstract
- A series of Pd1−xFex alloy epitaxial films (x = 0, 0.038, 0.062, and 0.080), a material promising for superconducting spintronics, was prepared and studied with ultrafast optical and magneto-optical laser spectroscopy in a wide temperature range of 4–300 K. It was found that the transition to the ferromagnetic state causes a qualitative change of both the reflectivity and the magneto-optical Kerr effect transients. A nanoscale magnetic inhomogeneity of the ferromagnet/paramagnet type inherent in the palladium-rich Pd1−xFex alloys reveals itself through the occurrence of a relatively slow, 10–25 ps, photoinduced demagnetization component following a subpicosecond one; the former vanishes at low temperatures only in the x = 0.080 sample. We argue that the 10 ps timescale demagnetization originates most probably from the diffusive transport of d electrons under the condition of nanoscale magnetic inhomogeneities. The low-temperature fraction of the residual paramagnetic phase can be deduced from the magnitude of the slow reflectivity relaxation component. It is estimated as ≈30% for x = 0.038 and ≈15% for x = 0.062 films. The minimal iron content ensuring the magnetic homogeneity of the ferromagnetic state in the Pd1−xFex alloy at low temperatures is about 7–8 atom %.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 21904286
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.8c1b0a92a4984fb4b0c0a7f015529468
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.13.74